Pick Clark Addison's New Car

[Clark Addison]

I have a son who recently turned 16, and is going to get his driver's license next week. Unless I want to wake up at 5:00 every morning to take him to seminary this year, we need a new car. We may get an older car for him, but right now I am leaning toward passing down my current car to him, and getting a new one for myself. I drive a 2003 Toyota Camry with close to 100K miles on it.

As is obvious from what I currently drive, I am not much of a car guy. I don't need anything fancy. I like cars to be reliable and I don't like to spend a whole lot of money. On the other hand, I do like driving around in something comfortable and nice. My best guess on the price I am looking for is in the 20K to 30K range. Could go a little above that, but I'd prefer not to. I could also go lower than 20K.

I welcome your suggestions.

[Babs]

I have a son who recently turned 16, and is going to get his driver's license next week. Unless I want to wake up at 5:00 every morning to take him to seminary this year, we need a new car. We may get an older car for him, but right now I am leaning toward passing down my current car to him, and getting a new one for myself. I drive a 2003 Toyota Camry with close to 100K miles on it.

As is obvious from what I currently drive, I am not much of a car guy. I don't need anything fancy. I like cars to be reliable and I don't like to spend a whole lot of money. On the other hand, I do like driving around in something comfortable and nice. My best guess on the price I am looking for is in the 20K to 30K range. Could go a little above that, but I'd prefer not to. I could also go lower than 20K.

I welcome your suggestions.

you drive foreign or domestic? What class are you looking at? Little cars, bigger cars, small SUV?

[Clark Addison]

you drive foreign or domestic? What class are you looking at? Little cars, bigger cars, small SUV?

I have bought nothing but Japanese cars in my life, but I am open to breaking that habit if I have good reason to. Looking at sedans, probably mid-sized.

[falafel]

I have bought nothing but Japanese cars in my life, but I am open to breaking that habit if I have good reason to. Looking at sedans, probably mid-sized.

Do you want brand new or would you take a lightly used..., uh, used car.

[Soccermom]

I have a son who recently turned 16, and is going to get his driver's license next week. Unless I want to wake up at 5:00 every morning to take him to seminary this year, we need a new car. We may get an older car for him, but right now I am leaning toward passing down my current car to him, and getting a new one for myself. I drive a 2003 Toyota Camry with close to 100K miles on it.

As is obvious from what I currently drive, I am not much of a car guy. I don't need anything fancy. I like cars to be reliable and I don't like to spend a whole lot of money. On the other hand, I do like driving around in something comfortable and nice. My best guess on the price I am looking for is in the 20K to 30K range. Could go a little above that, but I'd prefer not to. I could also go lower than 20K.

I welcome your suggestions.

Aristides and I are like you. . we like reliable cars that are not too pricey. Aristides used to drive a Nissan Maxima. He loved that car. He totaled it a year ago and since he had a long commute at the time, went with a smaller, fuel efficient car and bought a new Honda Civic. It is a tiny car, but he loved it for commuting. Depending on what happens with the job situation, he may at some point wish he had gone with a midsized sedan. But Aristides Jr. will be 16 in 6 years. .. .at which point Dad's 2008 Honda Civic will be a great first time driver car

[Surfah]

I have bought nothing but Japanese cars in my life, but I am open to breaking that habit if I have good reason to. Looking at sedans, probably mid-sized.

I can't believe I am going to say this, but....the new Ford Taurus is really nice. That said, you can't go wrong with another Camry. Pretty much everything in that same class is nice and you couldn't go wrong, Maxima, Accord, Mazda6....

[FN Phat]

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

[falafel]

I can't believe I am going to say this, but....the new Ford Taurus is really nice. That said, you can't go wrong with another Camry. Pretty much everything in that same class is nice and you couldn't go wrong, Maxima, Accord, Mazda6....

They brought back the SHO!

[TripletDaddy]

Maximas....those things are impossible to destroy. they last forever.

Civics, Accords, maximas....great quality for the value.

i actually like volkswagens as well. they seem to blow those out every labor day, so there is usually a good deal to be had on a jetta or passat.

[Clark Addison]

Do you want brand new or would you take a lightly used..., uh, used car.

I would be open to a slightly used car, but I tend to hate spending the time necessary to find one.

[FN Phat]

I can't believe I am going to say this, but....the new Ford Taurus is really nice. That said, you can't go wrong with another Camry. Pretty much everything in that same class is nice and you couldn't go wrong, Maxima, Accord, Mazda6....

Agreed

[beelzebabette]

I can't believe I am going to say this, but....the new Ford Taurus is really nice. That said, you can't go wrong with another Camry. Pretty much everything in that same class is nice and you couldn't go wrong, Maxima, Accord, Mazda6....

I was going to suggest the Altima or TSX, but I worried I'd be suggesting a chick car.

[Donuthole]

I think the new Malibu is the best looking sedan on the road. You can get one pretty well-equipped for about 22k, and fully-loaded for about 25k. Even the most basic model is pretty nice, and runs about 20k. You could probably pick up a new 08 for a steal of a deal.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

If you want to spend a little extra money, I'd suggest looking at the new Nissan Maxima. That's a nice looking car and that V6 they put in it blows out the comparable Honda and Toyota V6s.

Otherwise, test drive the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. I've bought two Hondas over the past three years and I test drove the comparable Toyotas, and the Hondas were significantly better in terms of steering, breaking, interior materials and layout. Toyotas will give you a quieter ride and sometimes give you more power, but not much else. I also prefered the Honda designs over the comparable Toyota designs. I think the current Accord looks nicer than the current Camry, but the current Camry isn't bad.

BTW, at least at my local dealerships, the inventory of Toyota Camrys and Corollas were cleaned out due to CARS. Honda not so much. You might be able to get a better deal on a Honda.

[falafel]

If you want to spend a little extra money, I'd suggest looking at the new Nissan Maxima. That's a nice looking car and that V6 they put in it blows out the comparable Honda and Toyota V6s.

Otherwise, test drive the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. I've bought two Hondas over the past three years and I test drove the comparable Toyotas, and the Hondas were significantly better in terms of steering, breaking, interior materials and layout. Toyotas will give you a quieter ride and sometimes give you more power, but not much else. I also prefered the Honda designs over the comparable Toyota designs. I think the current Accord looks nicer than the current Camry, but the current Camry isn't bad.

BTW, at least at my local dealerships, the inventory of Toyota Camrys and Corollas were cleaned out due to CARS. Honda not so much. You might be able to get a better deal on a Honda.

I'm bummed by the styling of the new maxima. I liked the old ones. They got close with this one, but they missed on the headlights and taillights.

That being said, none of the mid-sized Japanese sedans are very intriguing to me right now. The camry's tail lights look like thos bubble/foam stickers that were so popular in the 80s.