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Car advice? Want combo of good mileage/price/maintenance
07-09-2018, 10:46 AM
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#1
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Dryer sheet aficionado
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 30
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Car advice? Want combo of good mileage/price/maintenance
We are moving back to the US after 3 years of military overseas. We are bringing back with us our 2 identical 2006 Honda Odysseys. My husband is a YouTube hobby mechanic and keeps them in good running condition. Once we get to NoVA, we plan on buying a commuter car. We will leave one van with our au pair/kids during the day, I’ll drive one van, and my husband will need a vehicle to get to his work place 45 minutes away (not far via mileage, but downtown DC.)
Based on googling, I was considering a 2018-ish Honda Fit. It wouldn’t fit our entire family (4 kids) but our current Euro-spec Kia Cerrato doesn’t either and it works for us. Any feedback on the Fit? Any other options I should consider? Should I look for a few years older? I don’t have a problem (at all!) buying used but it didn’t seem to depreciate enough to be worth it. I’ll take any advice!
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07-09-2018, 10:54 AM
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#2
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,912
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IF I were looking and if I tended to keep my car for a long time I would look at Honda Fit, Honda Civic, and Toyota Corolla. New or used. Civic and Corolla will give you more options in terms of size. Civic, and I think Corolla, just went through a body change in the past year or so. That that may positively impact the price of pre owned units for buyer.
If I were buying a car simply for commuting, Honda Fit would be at the very top of my list.
It often pays to spend a little more upfront to get something that will provide more value over time. Our last Camry lasted 20 years with no major issues. Currently running a 2006 Accord and a 2007 Solara. No plans to replace either.
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07-09-2018, 11:08 AM
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#3
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ATL --> Flyover Country
Posts: 6,649
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*IF* I needed something for commuting (thank GOD I am not!) I would be looking at something 3-4 years old with less than 50K miles and it would be either a Corolla or a Civic. That type of commute will be brutal on ANY car (and brakes) so I would want something that is cheap to acquire and maintain.
No way I would buy a BRAND NEW anything for a commuter car. No way. No how.
__________________
FIRE'd in 2014 @ 40 Years Old
Professional Retiree
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07-09-2018, 11:38 AM
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#4
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 17,241
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Heck, let him live a bit and buy a Corvette...
You can all ride in one of the vans if you need to go...
j/k
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07-09-2018, 11:46 AM
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#5
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 7,113
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In my area Subarus are very popular. Find a used one.
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Duck bjorn.
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07-09-2018, 11:49 AM
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#6
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ATL --> Flyover Country
Posts: 6,649
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brat
In my area Subarus are very popular. Find a used one.
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Subarus seem to be gaining A LOT of popularity recently. I live in an affluent area in the NW 'burbs of ATL (not what I would consider the Subaru demographic) and have noticed that they are multiplying!
__________________
FIRE'd in 2014 @ 40 Years Old
Professional Retiree
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07-09-2018, 11:51 AM
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#7
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Colorado Mountains
Posts: 3,165
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We bought a new 2005 Prius. The best mileage it ever got (~60 mpg) was in stop-and-go traffic in rush hour going around the D.C. beltway. My daughter is still driving it and loves it. I think it has something like 180k miles on it.
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07-09-2018, 11:53 AM
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#8
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gone traveling
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,375
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With raising two kids, I'd put safety first in consideration. With spending a lot of time in it, comfortable seat & ride would be next.
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07-09-2018, 11:54 AM
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#9
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,974
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A Prius will be at its best crawling through downtown traffic.
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Car advice? Want combo of good mileage/price/maintenance
07-09-2018, 12:49 PM
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#10
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Dryer sheet aficionado
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 30
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Car advice? Want combo of good mileage/price/maintenance
Quote:
Originally Posted by Texas Proud
Heck, let him live a bit and buy a Corvette...
You can all ride in one of the vans if you need to go...
j/k
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Problem solved! I don’t know why I didn’t think of a Corvette!! :-D
Seriously though, it looks like I’ll be checking out Corollas and Civics in addition to the Fit.
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07-09-2018, 02:23 PM
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#11
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Independence
Posts: 7,298
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Bunches of Subies here in Oregon. Sister & BIL have been through 3 Foresters and nephew has an Outback. The Foresters regularly trounce my Mazda CX5 on fuel economy & have more storage room. I like to think the CX5 is a bit more lux and perkier to drive.
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"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
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07-09-2018, 02:36 PM
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#12
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,958
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I'd go for a Nissan Altima..we have one, terrific mileage, quit possibly the most comfortable seating car we have ever owned. It also has an extremely roomy back seat. We'd done day trips with four adults and never had a problem.
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07-09-2018, 02:58 PM
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#13
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: The Great Wide Open
Posts: 3,804
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Pretty much all the car manufacturers make a decent product, pick a model you like and go with it. I prefer to buy used, and some certified domestic used cars still have many miles on the 100,000 mile warranty.
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07-09-2018, 06:04 PM
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#14
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,328
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I'd also look at a used Prius. Owners love them and they seem to last forever. Not to mention the fuel economy and roominess for a small car.
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07-09-2018, 10:18 PM
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#15
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Huntsville, AL/Helen, GA
Posts: 6,002
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I too suggest the Prius. If they hold up in Manhattan taxi service, they would make a great commuter car. Now, they are larger, more comfortable and less weird in styling.
We have a new generation Hybrid 2018 Camry. It is downright quick and so quiet. We get 52 mpg in town and 48.5 mpg on interstates. And no one would know it is a hybrid if wasn't so silent and smooth. At $26k, it also wasn't a bad priced car.
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07-10-2018, 04:00 AM
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#16
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gone traveling
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 435
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Texas Proud
Heck, let him live a bit and buy a Corvette...
You can all ride in one of the vans if you need to go...
j/k
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I bought a honda fit with 100k miles on it and drove it 2 years, 90 miles a day with great mpg and oil changes only. But...I drove my vette to
DC last month and had a great time
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07-10-2018, 04:04 AM
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#17
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Michigan
Posts: 5,003
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After decades of preferring GM, last year we bought our first Honda, a CRV, and love it. Pretty good US content too. I would say go with Civic or Accord.
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"The mountains are calling, and I must go." John Muir
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07-10-2018, 07:14 AM
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#18
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,146
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I have a 2012 Honda Fit and overall really like the car. But if you are considering getting one, my suggestion is to get a newer model with built-in back up and lane change camera. Also, the newer model has better acceleration as the one I have (despite being a sport model) is pretty slow. Also, hopefully, the A/C is stronger in the newer models as Fits are known for the greenhouse effect large glass windshield.
I do love the cargo area and the way the backs seats configure for hauling different sized things around, but MPG is very good. Not hybrid-like, but good.
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Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
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07-10-2018, 08:13 AM
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#19
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ATL --> Flyover Country
Posts: 6,649
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bamaman
I too suggest the Prius. If they hold up in Manhattan taxi service, they would make a great commuter car. Now, they are larger, more comfortable and less weird in styling.
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Yeah, I am going to have to disagree with the underlined portion. The newer ones look like they...um, well, I can't say it on the forum. They are still UGLY, UGLY cars.
__________________
FIRE'd in 2014 @ 40 Years Old
Professional Retiree
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07-10-2018, 10:15 AM
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#20
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 247
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ivinsfan
I'd go for a Nissan Altima..we have one, terrific mileage, quit possibly the most comfortable seating car we have ever owned. It also has an extremely roomy back seat. We'd done day trips with four adults and never had a problem.
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I also have a nissan but a versa. Very roomy as i am 6'3 275 lb and plenty of room. 38mpg bought ours new in 2012 OTD price of just under 13k with a lifetime engine warranty. Only thing i have had to replace was 1 battery 1 belt and 1 plug change. Still running on the original brake pads at 160k miles
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