freaking out about having to buy a car.

[surgtech1956]

+1 for some sort of hatchback. You can't go wrong with a Honda or Toyota(Honda Fit, Toyota Matrix, Honda Element). I don't know much about Scion. I would own a Honda Fit or Toyota Matrix in a minute, if it wasn't for us having a pop-up camper to tow and needing 4WD(because we live on a street that isn't plowed in the winter).

[berkeley]

I love my Fit! That gets my vote

[ny biker]

Plus the Prius is really a remote emission vehicle - the environmental costs of mining the lithium for the battery (which will only last 100 miles) far outweighs any savings on gas mileage. I love my Fit.

100 miles? Even if you meant 100,000, it's not true. The Toyota hybrid drive lasts a long time.

Anyway, I agree on the utility of a hatchback, especially if the rear seats fold flat.

[FlyingScot]

I don't know why'd you'd put Subaru on your list. Their mileage is less than impressive. Sure they've got all wheel drive all the time, but do you really need it?

Ummm...ouch! 2008 Forester. Average mileage 23-25. Reasons to keep it on the list. Safety, reliability, versatility, towability, "haulability" and resale value. If it rains significantly where you live yeah the AWD sure comes in handy. Prefer to have it keep me out of trouble than have it kick in after the fact! Glad you love your Mazda.

[shootingstar]

I don't have anything meaningful to add to this thread since am so car clueless.

HOpe you a vehicle that meets your budget and for certain times of convenience.

[smilingcat]

I don't have anything meaningful to add to this thread since am so car clueless.

HOpe you a vehicle that meets your budget and for certain times of convenience.

It would be very nice if I could be like you and be car free and worry free about transportation. But this is LA.

The boys at the office are not much help when it comes to advising on models of car to look. I think they were just trying to tweak me. In there were some helpful hints though.

Get a Chrysler. They are dumping them so should get a real bargain.
Ford Focus or Fusion. Now that's interesting and never thought about.
Or one of the Saturns forgot the model name.

Regardless, I'm really not looking forward to car shopping. I hate haggling. I find most car salesmen to be bit "dirty" and untrustworthy. I get a feeling of their sole interest is to separate you from your hard earned cash and as much cash as possible. It's making me have an upset stomach. blach... didn't have time to drop into a car dealer today so try again tomorrow. meh. How can car buying be fun? shopping for a new bike, cloth, shoes, pottery, which I collect, buying sculpture is fun but a car??? Oh visitng an open house is always fun.

[badger]

I'm not sure if it's the same here, but here in Canada, both Toyota and Honda are haggle-free. Everyone pays the same price.

[sgtiger]

Regardless, I'm really not looking forward to car shopping. I hate haggling. I find most car salesmen to be bit "dirty" and untrustworthy. I get a feeling of their sole interest is to separate you from your hard earned cash and as much cash as possible. It's making me have an upset stomach. blach... didn't have time to drop into a car dealer today so try again tomorrow. meh. How can car buying be fun? shopping for a new bike, cloth, shoes, pottery, which I collect, buying sculpture is fun but a car??? Oh visitng an open house is always fun.

Internet car shopping is the way to go. No haggling. No mind games. The dealerships have a set internet price. Usually you have to go through your bank, credit union, buying club (Costco), etc., auto buying program. You just enter in the models and trim level you're interested in and the car dealerships email you with a set price.

Also, edmunds.com lists the average price that a particular model is selling for in your area. I highly recommend doing research on dealerships there.

[crazycanuck]

Is there something similar to a novation lease available through your company? That might be another idea.

[Becky]

Ummm...ouch! 2008 Forester. Average mileage 23-25. Reasons to keep it on the list. Safety, reliability, versatility, towability, "haulability" and resale value. If it rains significantly where you live yeah the AWD sure comes in handy. Prefer to have it keep me out of trouble than have it kick in after the fact! Glad you love your Mazda.

Ditto. Our Outback routinely gets 25-26 mpg around town, and 28-30 on the highway. And it holds as much as any small/mid SUV. A manual transmission, a light touch on the gas and brake, and timing all go a long way to increasing mpgs.

Smilingcat, good luck with your purchase. You'll do fine!

[Mr. SR500]

I'm agonizing over the same thing, but for different reasons. Need another car for SilverDaughter. Here's what I'm finding:

- Started looking for Rav4/CR-V - mileage stinks
- I only buy used...but no one is buy new, so used supply is tight (and precious$)
- In "bang for the buck", is the difference between an '07 30mpg Civic for $11,000 and an '07 45mph Prius for $21,000 worth it...not for someone who doesn't drive much
- Here's what I'm liking for her right now:

- Scion xB
- The new Kia SOUL - it's funky hip - albeit new and unproven
- Honda Accord/Civic

It is odd right now that with used supplies down, some new cars may wind up being a better deal than the most popular used models.

Good luck - let us know which way you go.

Mr. Silver, we love our Civic, big enough and rides nice enough we can take it to Chicago. Good gas mileage, will fit my bike in the trunk, and it's a Honda.

[TxDoc]

my car is 2000 model year Audi A6 Quattro station wagon with 221k miles on it.

It seems you had a good experience with your Audi - so how about just buying another A4? Audi makes great cars and it will probably last you as long or longer than the one you have. And if you want to save some $$$ you can probably find a used one.

[tulip]

It seems you had a good experience with your Audi - so how about just buying another A4? Audi makes great cars and it will probably last you as long or longer than the one you have. And if you want to save some $$$ you can probably find a used one.

A3 is the wagon. Very nice, indeedy.

[maillotpois]

100 miles? Even if you meant 100,000, it's not true. The Toyota hybrid drive lasts a long time.

Anyway, I agree on the utility of a hatchback, especially if the rear seats fold flat.

Right - duh - I meant 100,000. My understanding is that the batteries don't last much longer than that. Of course, there are probably not a lot of people out there testing for such distances in real world conditions yet.

[Tuckervill]

My son has two Scions (Xa and Xb) and he loves them. They are sweet little cars.

That said, you can never go wrong with a Civic. I have a '96 sitting in my driveway with 180k miles on it, that will probably go at least another 100k. (teenager car). It still gets 38 mpg when I drive it!

Karen