Contemplating Aura -> "commuter car"

[bc3tech]

Well in the interest of timming still more fat in my budget, I'm contemplating getting rid of the Aura for an even-more fuel efficient "commuter car"

Details:

I drive 3mi one-way to work
Fastest speed limit on that route, 40mph
Current avg mpg: 19.5
Current avg speed: 24.7mph
Current car payment: $480

Requirements for new car:

> 25mpg easily in the city
"easy" room for 2 car seats
4 door
Able to get < $275/mo pmt


Let's hear some recommendations!
So far I'm considering:

Ford focus
Honda Civic
Mazda 3
Hyundai Accent


I don't really care new / used, but would be nice to get something that'll last for at least the next 5-6yrs w/o being a money pit. I'll be trading the Aura in so I want somebody who will give me a good fair price on it. I have the aura at 1.9% financing so I'm thinking I've kept up w/ depreciation (hopefully) and should be able to get the remainder of the loan taken care of by whoever I get the new car from. If not, then this won't be happening unless I can roll the remainder in and still have a better monthly payment with everything included (gap insurance if this is required, maintenance package if need be, etc)

[MGM1979]

what about the Chevy Volt - I think I saw a commercial for it not too long ago...the lines weren't bad, and it's supposed to be pretty damn fuel efficient.

Disclaimer: I did absolutely ZERO Googling before making this post, so I may be off base here.

[bc3tech]

what about the Chevy Volt - I think I saw a commercial for it not too long ago...the lines weren't bad, and it's supposed to be pretty damn fuel efficient.

Disclaimer: I did absolutely ZERO Googling before making this post, so I may be off base here.
ideally i'd like something w/in the next month or so, as the prime objective here is to have some more money each month when new baby comes. and i have a sneaking suspicion that the volt isn't going to save me anything when it comes to monthly payments - the ROI in gas on it won't be w/in the 5yr range either, esp since the prices have come down so much since the concept was introduced.

i'll do some more hunting on it though. Right now my plan of attack is to hit every make i can think of w/in my immediate area, maybe a 10mi radius and find out who is going to give me the best trade-in value on my Aura, since that'll also dictate the monthly payment. Then after that i'll pick out the car that I want based solely on the above requirements.

I think my monthly payment desires are going to mean i'll be in the ballpark of a $15,000 vehicle out-the-door. which just about guarantees the Volt's outta the question, going to do some searching to find out for sure, now :)

[bc3tech]

2011 Chevrolet Volt Review and Prices (http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2011-chevrolet-volt.htm)
3/2/2009
2011 Chevrolet Volt Prices: GM first projected the Volt’s base price at around $30,000, but has since upped the estimate to $35,000. And some sources believe the final tab will be more like $40,000, rather steep for a compact Chevrolet. Why so much? Apparently because GM underestimated the cost of the high-tech batteries and other Volt-specific components. The wild card is whether the company might be willing to take a loss by subsidizing the price down to the original $30K target--and if so, for how long
and *ZAP* there goes the Volt
(pun totally intended)

[MGM1979]

good gawd, yeah - that's a bit of an extreme price...

[bc3tech]

leaning toward the Hyundai Accent right now.

made myself sick last night looking at the KBB Trade-In value of my Aura. Even w/ 1.9% APR my payments have nowhere near kept up - the thing's worth just over $13k right now - unbelievable. Thank you fleet sales I guess. :cursin:

So, this could get really interesting w/ having to roll in debt on my Aura to a new small car. I should be able to get out for under $20k assuming I get KBB "Excellent" trade-in value for the aura.

[Cat Ion]

You ain't getting 2 cars seat in the back seat of an Accent. You ain't getting all the "kid" crap you need to lug around with 2 kids in the trunk. What about the Jetta TDI? Claimed estimated 57 MPG freeway.

On a side note. 3 miles ain't enough time to warm up the O2 sensors, so you might not be benefiting in the gas mieage department due to that.

[all4glh]

Well, in the warmer weather I'd probably buy a bicycle to save the money on gas. The Nissan Sentra's aren't too bad either.

[bc3tech]

You ain't getting 2 cars seat in the back seat of an Accent. You ain't getting all the "kid" crap you need to lug around with 2 kids in the trunk. What about the Jetta TDI? Claimed estimated 57 MPG freeway.

On a side note. 3 miles ain't enough time to warm up the O2 sensors, so you might not be benefiting in the gas mieage department due to that.
The aura xr 3.6 claims EPA 17mpg cty - i'm getting 19.7 right now. so i'd say i'm doing pretty damn good. i usually swing toward 20mpg cty in the thing.

i went and saw an Accent at the Saturn dealership I got my Aura from yesterday afternoon - I definitey can get two car seats in it and all the "kid crap" (would probably fit the stroller better than the aura, actually)
The only prob w/ th eone that they have, it was a smoker's car and you can tell it as soon as you get in. So i either find something else, or screw 'em hard over that fact alone :)

jetta TDI i'm pretty sure is outta my price range - and i've heard they're hard as hell to find used because people hold on to them.
Well, in the warmer weather I'd probably buy a bicycle to save the money on gas. The Nissan Sentra's aren't too bad either.yeah i've seen the sentra, too much $$ - the Versa is more what i'm looking for.

[all4glh]

Don't put your kids in a smokers car. Even when you think you got all the smoke smell out, it's not. Don't subject them to that, find another one.

[bc3tech]

Don't put your kids in a smokers car. Even when you think you got all the smoke smell out, it's not. Don't subject them to that, find another one.
yeah pretty much what i'm thinking

[Caboose]

i dont know about hyundai, but my cousin had a Kia.....same manufacturer anyway.....it was the biggest P.O.S. ive ever seen spent as much time in the shop as it was on the road. go used Civic or Corolla as much as i hate foreign cars at least they are reliable.......

[bc3tech]

i dont know about hyundai, but my cousin had a Kia.....same manufacturer anyway.....it was the biggest P.O.S. ive ever seen spent as much time in the shop as it was on the road. go used Civic or Corolla as much as i hate foreign cars at least they are reliable.......
well we did have a kia sorento before the outlook - never had an issue with it.

hyundai has so many interesting deals going on right now w/ the 100,000mi warranty (or whatever), the $1.49 gas price lock, and the Assurance thing (not that I'm worried i'll need it)

[Cat Ion]

In the past 3-5 years, both Kia and Hyundai have improved their quality control so much! I know they started out fairly poorly in the U.S. but they have done a complete 180 lately. You need to take that into account for sure.

[Caboose]

i dunno, whatever you feel you want/ need. but after the episode the family had with that Rio, i dont think our trust will be restored in that company for some time.

[Cat Ion]

They're both winning awards for build quality as of late. So I think something changed for the better.

[MGM1979]

everyone knows awards are all politics and money...c'mon! LMAO

[Cat Ion]

True, but when in the past has an import car from Korea earned awards in the US? That says enough that they're making people take notice.

[bc3tech]

honestly i'd love a Genesis sedan - drove one at a "VIP test drive event" here in the cities and absolutely loved it. but too much $$

[Cat Ion]

Such a sexy car. And $20K less than other German luxury cars with the same features. I'd rock one in a heartbeat as well if they weren't so dang expensive.