What kind of car should I get?

[raydog]

I'm in the market for a new to me car. I switching jobs and will be commuting about 50 miles a day. So around 30mpg or more would be great. I am having a tough time deciding on a car that I would like to drive. I'm more of a truck type of guy. My price range is around $6,000- $9,000. Maybe more in a couple of weeks. So far I like the Mazda 3 quite a bit. Sporty enough but good gas mileage too. They are just a little hard to get ahold of. The other day I test drove a 02 Audi A4. I had no plans to buy it, but the dealer though if he put me in it I would buy it. It was fun to drive and rod on it a little. Anyways Is there any cars that you guys would suggest checking out? Ones to avoid? Thanks-Ray

[Special T]

Consider a 2wd ford ranger in 2wd with the 4 banger... still can haul something but decent mileage not quite 30mpg but darn close depending on the commute and drive.

[NW-GSP]

I have a VW tdi and I'm getting 43-53 mpg around 600 miles on a tank. I even took it to republic dear hunting last season and had no problems.

[Johnb317]

tdi sounds fun!

Your question is a fairly open field..... until you get to 30mpg which narrows things a lot.
first things first...... how good a mechanic are you??

Audi's are fun to drive..... but parts and labor can add up.
If you're buying an older car.... is the timing belt due for a change?   Not a hard job if you know what you're doing, but if you have to pay to have it done add 1000.00 depending on the car.

Narrow your search, look at maintenance costs, and check with insurance rates too!

Good luck.

[PlateauNDN]

I'm driving just a bit more round trip work to home so it depends on what you want as a trade off. Car, SUV , truck...m.p.g., comfortability, off road...on my truck I was spending about 110-130 every 2weeks. SUV is was spending 90-110 and car is getting about 70.

[raydog]

tdi sounds fun!

Your question is a fairly open field..... until you get to 30mpg which narrows things a lot.
first things first...... how good a mechanic are you??

Audi's are fun to drive..... but parts and labor can add up.
If you're buying an older car.... is the timing belt due for a change?   Not a hard job if you know what you're doing, but if you have to pay to have it done add 1000.00 depending on the car.

Narrow your search, look at maintenance costs, and check with insurance rates too!

Good luck.

I'm fairly mechanically inclined. I can get most thing done until we hit electrical issues. I'm glad you brought up insurance too. I'm 19 so they just nail me with insurance costs!

I will try to narrow it down a little. Already have a hunting rig so no need for Awd/4wd. I'm not big on hatchbacks. I would like something with a little get up and go. Can't go over board or else the insurance Co will lose there mind. As much as I tell myself looks aren't what is important, I still pass up on ugly cars
So basically I'm looking for something that will get decent MPG, Insurance company can't mug for owning, Still be able to get up to speed reasonable, and not look awful.

These are the cars I have been looking at and will be researching:
Mazda 3
Ford Focus
Jetta TDI- worried about repair parts cost though?
Subaru legacy
Maybe a Subaru outback.
Just glanced at Scion Tc but the reviews were terrible
I have considered a 2wd truck like a Ranger or S-10 as Special T suggested

[CAMPMEAT]

I have a VW tdi and I'm getting 43-53 mpg around 600 miles on a tank. I even took it to republic dear hunting last season and had no problems.

So you're the guy I saw driving it around in the woods.....

[WA hunter14]

what about a motorcycle?

[NW-GSP]

Haha yes. We talked in the grocery store parking lot for a little while. Don't worry I now also have a 04 GMC 2500 diesel. Can't beat the mpg with my VW tdi though.

[C-Money]

I drive a Sentra to work. About 70 miles round trip to my primary job. 33mpg, pretty good in the snow. A/C works. Wish it was a little roomier, but no problems with comfort 40 minutes each way. 

[yorketransport]

I have an 04 Jetta 1.8T that I used as my commuter until a few months ago. If you take care of your scheduled maintenance VWs are great. Used ones can be a little bit of a gamble if you can't get service records for them. The auto transmissions are the weak link in VWs, so try to find a manual. The TDI would be high on my list even if it's not as fun to drive as the 1.8T.

For me, fuel economy is good but not worth driving something that you don't like. If you drive 50 miles a day commuting (I'll call it 300 miles a week just to give a buffer) at 30 MPG, you'll use 10 gallons of fuel. At 25 MPG you're only using an extra 2 gallons per week. That's the cost of 1-2 Starbucks drinks per week @ $3 per gallon and about $300 per year. That's a fair chunk of change. Now factory in the amount of time that you're going to spend in the car. Sometimes that extra $6 in fuel savings per week to get a car with 30 mpg isn't worth compromising the pleasure or comfort of being in car that you like more, but gets lower MPG.

Sometimes it's worth it to just buy the car you want instead of the car you need. I went through this back in November when I was looking for a new daily driver. I already have a truck and planned to keep the Jetta to use as a spare (or for my wife in the even she ever decides to drive  ) I commute about 75 miles round trip each day; that's a lot of windshield time just commuting. Then I drive for work in a loud, rough riding step van. A car with good MPG would have the smart choice to cut down on fuel consumption. The reality though is that I spend so much time in the driver's seat that I just want to drive something that I enjoy. I went from looking at the 2015 Ford Fusion Hybrids (to cover the high MPG requirement) to driving home a 2015 Lexus IS 350 F-Sport because that's the car that gave me that warm fuzzy feeling. I ended up with a car that gets 25 MPG instead of 35 MPG and I don't regret it one bit. You shouldn't dread getting into your car.

Find the car that you like and will fit your budget and needs, not the car that fits your needs and that you just "don't hate".

Andrew

[coachcw]

A car in that price range       Japanese   I'd look for a low mile camera or a sub that's had head gaskets done

[2labs]

2002 ford ranger 4 cyl 5 speed. Great little truck!

[Special T]

My Vote for the Ranger  is that a 2wd PU provides a lot of versatility. My brother has had a couple of Rangers and he has abused the hell out of them and they just wont stop.Ive owned 3 S10s and currently own a 90's 2wd that i use for my run around work truck Both are everywhere and reasonable. If the 50 mile commute is stop and go I may lean on a S 10 auto, but the Ranger 5 speed sticks are the bomb. My Brother and I each have a light weight headache rack for all those little over length things. A few 12' boards, some PVC pipe etc.

[kirkl]

I've got two Hyundai elantras. Great cars for the money. Get about 33-35 on freeway.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

In that price range you can find a nice TDI Jetta and have a great commuter car.  You will love the 700+ miles to a tank

[fillthefreezer]

toyota corolla or camry. between my last two im at 700,000 miles

[Skillet]

LOL, I would sooner walk than buy a used VW.  Probably be walking if you bought the VW anyway... I've never owned one that didn't have an electrical gremlin in it.  Of course, I've never owned one newer than a 1998 - but those cars have been so bad for me (and one of my co-workers who found out about the auto in his Jetta) I'll never own another that I have to rely on for transportation.  Won't take many of the regular repairs those things need before you lose any advantage in fuel savings you thought you had...

My commuter is a 1999 Toyota Solara (two door camry) with a manual trans.  I really like it - 30 mpg on the highway and 24 in town, peppy enough, has been completely free of problems. Based on your list and my preferences, if I'm you I'm looking for that low-mile Mazda 3 with a manual trans.   

[bracer40]

Get the most recent issue of consumers report "Cars Issue". They'll provide you more hard data in one place than you'll find anywhere else. And being a non-profit organization, they're about as an un-biased source you can find.
Every car I've purchased was researched 1st in CR.
Never been unhappy with a single vehicle.

You can probably find the most recent issue free in the resources section of your public library (a gov't funded agency I love!)

[baker5150]

I switched my wife from an Audi to a TDI Jetta, I will never look back.

Repair cost may be a bit more than the Japanese cars, but I more than make up for it in fuel savings.

Audi's are 100,000 mile cars.  They are just too expensive to repair, you can't even get wiper blades from anywhere but the dealership. 

[huntnphool]

 I'd be looking at anything made by Honda or Toyota and run like hell away from anything European.

[fillthefreezer]

Repair cost may be a bit more than the Japanese cars, but I more than make up for it in fuel savings.

really? my corolla avg 38. with fwy tanks up to 42 and my camry avg 29 in town with 32 all fwy

[TheHunt]

Prius...  All hunters and fisher-people should be driving one.  LOL...   

If it was me, I would choose a Toyota

[gee_unit360]

toyota corolla or camry. between my last two im at 700,000 miles

[DRobnsn]

Prius...  All hunters and fisher-people should be driving one.  LOL...   

If it was me, I would choose a Toyota

It's hard to argue with the idea that at the daily mileage he's talking a Prius will essentially make its own payment in fuel savings over buying and fueling most mid 20mpg rigs. Yes they are ugly and yes they have a stereo type but money is money. Plus they are extremely reliable with very little maintenance. Just tint the windows so no one can see you and put some hunting stickers on it 

[Special T]

I would vote a vw TDI over a Prius any day