Less Pedestrian
Posted on Thursday, July 27th, 2006 at 14:03.
I have to buy an inexpensive, fuel-efficient, reliable car for LA. My thinking is that I should spend a bit more and buy a slightly used car as to avoid a money pit. I also want something small enough to be nimble in LA traffic, but large enough to not get trampled by SUVs. And because American manufacturers can’t seem to make reliable and/or fuel-efficient cars, I was thinking something foreign.
Any suggestions?
The San Franciscan in me believes that he found his ideal car by purchasing a Prius prior to his unfortunate relocation to the greater LA area. Very comfortable and reliable, uses zero gas when halted in traffic (often), and is averaging about 45mpg through ordinary daily use. Nice cargo area if you fold the back seats down. 30,000 miles in just over a year with frequent trips to NorCal and to Santa Barbara.
True, it’s not inexpensive. However, we do get holier-than-thou stickers that let us drive solo in CA HOV lanes, which can be a lifesaver in LA. And thanks to the GPS (big deal ~last year, more common now), I’ve never been lost in SoCal. Imagine you’d also like the bluetooth handsfree…. and possibly the smell of your own farts…. if you were to go this route. :)
…oops. *blush*
The manual transmission mini is efficient and really fun to drive.
Strike that. Has to be automatic because LA is stop-and-go all day long and that sucks with a manual.
Would love a hybrid, but they’re so expensive that it would take over 10 years to recoup the premium paid for it over a non-hybrid.
I just bought a Prius a few days ago (I actually ordered it June 10 and got it Monday). I love it. I was lucky to buy it early enough to get the $3150 tax credit, which goes down to $1500 after September. It cost $25000 with a decent options package (smart entry, backup camera, MP3 input, etc). A basic one is $21,000, but if you can use the tax credit that will effectively bring it down.
I forgot to mention it’s my third Toyota (the other two were Corollas). If I didn’t buy the Prius I probably would have bought another Corolla. The Scion & Yaris (?) look nice and are pretty inexpensive.
The Prius is usually the obvious choice, but I frankly think it’s too overpriced for such an uninspired driving experience.
If I had to choose a car that is exhilarating to drive and high in quality, the Mazda 3 would win hands down. It has phenomenal gas mileage for a non hybrid and drives like a car twice its price.
My runner up would be the Jetta TDI, but since it’s not available in CA, you simply can’t go wrong with the 3. It will give you the best experience for a car under $18K. You should definitely check it out.
On my drive home tonight, I came to the realization that perhaps I didn’t give the Mini fair credit. :-)
It is indeed a phenomenal car for the price, but given that only the manual transmission will give you driving pleasure, it just won’t be a good mix for the heavy traffic that you’ll hit here.
If you can wait that long, the 2007 Mini’s will get a substantial boost in torque and horsepower. More importantly, I would imagine these new powerplants would pair very well even with an auto transmission.
Comfort level however played a large part in my list of recommendations. The interiors of both the Jetta and the Mazda 3 have a level of quality that the Mini just can’t match.
For the best deals, I wouldn’t overlook the used car market as well, especially if you have your financing already squared away.
If however you find the urge to splurge, then head straight to the Rusnak Audi dealership nearby in Pasadena. The Audi A4′s beautiful interior will definitely serve as relaxing therapy for those inevitable bad traffic days :-)
The 2003-present Toyota Corollas are incredibly reliable, have fuel efficiency in high 30s mpgs, and are in the value range that you are likely looking for. My sister & bro-in-law purchased one a year ago and it is an awesome vehicle. The automatic transmissions on Toyotas are also impressive. I think this would be the value car you should look at.
Corolla’s and Civic’s are definitely contenders as well. My first car was a Corolla and my parents have bought nothing but Camry’s for the last 20 years! Talk about brand loyalty! :-)
You’ll be pleased to know that there are more Toyota dealerships within a 30 mile radius in L.A. than any other city in the country! Competition is fierce. I recommend you pick up a Friday or Saturday edition of the L.A. Times when you arrive. You’ll find incredible offers out here.
For the best bang for the buck, also try cars.com and carmax.com. You’ll find great deals on slightly used vehicles at both sites.
Good luck searching and welcome to the City of Angels :-)
I think you should get a car with four wheels. And a steering wheel. And breaks, those are good too. And probably it should have an engine, unless you want to go Fred Flintstone.
With some brakes added onto Steph’s suggestion, you’ll be ready to go.
buy a honda. they are rather bulletproof, and good on gas
by the way…hope your trip/LA is as fun as mine