Whats a good car for $25,000 (base) budget?

[Jasonandme]

Whats a good car for $25,000 (base) budget? (around $500 financing per month?)
Any inputs are welcome.

[coriolis]

Whats a good car for $25,000 (base) budget? (around $500 financing per month?)
Any inputs are welcome.

Need more info. How much driving will you be doing? Is fuel economy important? Driving in the city/highway?


In before beige corrora.

[iEyeCaptain]

Toyota Corolla.

Beige in colour.

[The Destroyer]

Take a look at the Kia Optima. For that price you will likely be able to snag the EX Model with the 200hp 2.4L. Tons of features and drives very nice.

You might also want to add details for what you are looking for in a car like size, capacity, performance, handling preferences.

[valinrace]

If you could add a little more to your budget, I will suggest Toyota Prius Hybrid C, this car is really good especially at gas, you can save a lot in this car.

[Rehan]

If you're looking for a mid-size car: 2012 Hyundai Sonata GL for around $24000 including tax.

[Jasonandme]

Thanks for the input guys.
It will mostly be used for city

I am surprise no one mention Golf? Is it no good for this budget or something?

[sickcars]

Thanks for the input guys.
It will mostly be used for city

I am surprise no one mention Golf? Is it no good for this budget or something?

GOLF TDI :)

There should be 1 or 2 other threads about ppl asking about the golf have a look at it.

[Rehan]

GOLF TDI :)

There should be 1 or 2 other threads about ppl asking about the golf have a look at it. TDI is not necessarily a good choice for city driving. Here's a snippet from the article titled "Need a short-haul grocery getter? Don’t pick diesel" at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/car-tips/maintenance-and-repairs/need-a-short-haul-grocery-getter-dont-pick-diesel/article2396320/ :


“I hate to say it, but I don't think diesel's right for this guy,” says Volkswagen Canada spokesman Thomas Tetzlaff. “They're quiet, they have great acceleration and extremely good fuel efficiency. But they’re really not designed to be driven just five kilometres a day.”
...
“In a span of five kilometres, they're not even going to be remotely warm yet,” he says. “A diesel does great in the city. It's not so much the stop-and-go driving that's the problem for this driver. It's just the really short distances each day.

“If it were a bunch of five kilometre trips in one day, that would be okay,” Tetzlaff says. So it depends on the kind of city driving that will be done.

[Piro21]

A Civic. Everyone says the new one isn't as good as the old one, but I drove one as a Zipcar the other day and came away impressed. You could also do the 2012 Ford Fusion because of the deals on it now.

[Revva7]

I have a Toyota Corolla and love it! It is a 2009 model and great on fuel. The only challenge for me is that I have two teenage boys and one girl. The boys are growing out of their seat space, so this is something to consider when making your purchase - the growth of your family.

My Toyota was a program car and only had maybe 9,000 miles on it and I purchased it for around $14,000. My payments are around $300 per month with financing through the bank which offered me a very low percentage rate.

[Bomberman07]

Mazda 3, got one and reallly love it :)

[Jasonandme]

Mazda 3, got one and reallly love it :)

oh wow. i never knew mazda 3 is this price range as well. Added to my list.

I dont quite prefer American cars.
Further inputs are welcome. Thanks for the input tho guys.

[oksir]

frs

[mr_raider]

Thanks for the input guys.
It will mostly be used for city

I am surprise no one mention Golf? Is it no good for this budget or something?

There are several excellent compact fuel efficient cars that come to mind, for MSRP < 25000$ before taxes. Notably the Focus, Cruze, Mazda 3 and Elantra can all be optioned out below 25k easily. The foucs and MAzda 3 offer sedan and hatch variations. GM, Hyundai and Mazda usually run 0% financing by now in the model year. Ford is probably running employee pricing.

[Jasonandme]

Right now, I have the below on my list

VW Golf
VW Jetta
Mazda 3
Hyundai Elantra

Just curious, if I am willing to add $5000 to my original budget; will it give me a much wider choice?
or do I need at least another $10,000 to move up to another 'tier'?

[typer100]

X2 for the Prius

[BaconMunch]

Right now, I have the below on my list

VW Golf
VW Jetta
Mazda 3
Hyundai Elantra

Just curious, if I am willing to add $5000 to my original budget; will it give me a much wider choice?
or do I need at least another $10,000 to move up to another 'tier'?

That's where I am right now, trying to find a nice Camry SE.

[Jasonandme]

Was just looking at the VW passat at round $23,000 base
Its not bad too. I am not a fan of Camry. I rather go with Passat then.

[DJ_Peanuts22]

frs

Too exciting for OP's city driving. Head may asplode.

[MrDisco]

Just curious, if I am willing to add $5000 to my original budget; will it give me a much wider choice?
or do I need at least another $10,000 to move up to another 'tier'?


Was just looking at the VW passat at round $23,000 base
Its not bad too. I am not a fan of Camry. I rather go with Passat then.

You seem to be a bit all over the map. From $25k to now $35k? A small car like a Golf to a near full size sedan in the Passat?

What exactly is your budget?
What are you needs - do you need a small, mid, or full sized car?
You said you wanted $500 monthly payments but what is your repayment horizon? 3 years? 7 years?
Are you factoring the bottom line price in all this?
Have you considered insurance costs?

Anyway op it's hard to give you choices when your parameters aren't clearly defined. You should simply keep the above questions in mind, hit up the different car sites and most importantly take a day and look at each vehicle in person. Come back when you have a narrow list of top picks and we'll be able to offer better suggestions.

[frogger]

2013 Altima

[CingKrab]

If Elantra is on your list, maybe the new 2013 Elantra GT is worth a look.

[Techgeek32]

I suggest you to buy a hybrid or a diesel technology car. They consume less fuel and they are more environment friendly.

[Jasonandme]

You seem to be a bit all over the map. From $25k to now $35k? A small car like a Golf to a near full size sedan in the Passat?

What exactly is your budget?
What are you needs - do you need a small, mid, or full sized car?
You said you wanted $500 monthly payments but what is your repayment horizon? 3 years? 7 years?
Are you factoring the bottom line price in all this?
Have you considered insurance costs?

Anyway op it's hard to give you choices when your parameters aren't clearly defined. You should simply keep the above questions in mind, hit up the different car sites and most importantly take a day and look at each vehicle in person. Come back when you have a narrow list of top picks and we'll be able to offer better suggestions.


Hi,

I understand what you mean, but to be honest, i am so noob that i dont even have a clue and cant decide.

What exactly is your budget?
My budget is ideally $25,000 (but if its only +/- $5000 and getting a much better car, thats fine with me)

What are you needs - do you need a small, mid, or full sized car?
I would prefer a small card due to fuel efficiency. Thats why i started looking at the GOLF, then I find jetta and passat look nice too (doh).

You said you wanted $500 monthly payments but what is your repayment horizon? 3 years? 7 years?
Around $500 for a 5 years financing will be great. Again, i am willing to pay a little more if it means going to a totally 'different tier'.

Are you factoring the bottom line price in all this?
I was referring to MSRP; $500 or $25,000 (base). So if a $30,000 MSRP car can come down to $25,000, that works for me! :)

Have you considered insurance costs?
Yes and no. I didnt look into it in details. However, I try to avoid 2drs, sports car etc, as I know for my age, it will probably jump skyrocket.

Thanks for your input. Appreciated!

[poedua]

What are you needs - do you need a small, mid, or full sized car?
I would prefer a small card due to fuel efficiency. Thats why i started looking at the GOLF, then I find jetta and passat look nice too (doh).

!

What about a Honda Fit ?

GREAT on gas .........high resale.......cheap to own..........great size for city driving .....and you probably could get the top trim spec for around $23,000 ( or less ) ...' all in '

http://onsurga.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/2012-Honda-Fit.jpg

[MrDisco]

I understand what you mean, but to be honest, i am so noob that i dont even have a clue and cant decide.


Well understand that you have a huge list of cars to choose from (particularly if you start looking at $30k cars). You need to start prioritizing - what are your top 3 features? is it size and comfort? fuel economy? price? power? Do you have a family? Little kids? Are you transporting a lot of stuff? etc. From there head to the manufacturer websites and go to the dealerships. Sit in each model, test drive them, then narrow your list down.


What are you needs - do you need a small, mid, or full sized car?
I would prefer a small car due to fuel efficiency. That's why i started looking at the GOLF, then I find jetta and passat look nice too (doh).

A lot of cars look nice. Work out your budget, lay down your must-haves and go from there. Just because a Passat looks nice doesn't mean it's the right fit for you. For the price of an entry level Passat you can get a fairly loaded Golf as an example. Your base Passat also comes with a fairly unremarkable 5 cylinder engine which most reviewers agree isn't the greatest.

Cars are just a money pit. You should buy what you like of course, but don't blow your budget.

[Jasonandme]

Well understand that you have a huge list of cars to choose from (particularly if you start looking at $30k cars). You need to start prioritizing - what are your top 3 features? is it size and comfort? fuel economy? price? power? Do you have a family? Little kids? Are you transporting a lot of stuff? etc. From there head to the manufacturer websites and go to the dealerships. Sit in each model, test drive them, then narrow your list down.

A lot of cars look nice. Work out your budget, lay down your must-haves and go from there. Just because a Passat looks nice doesn't mean it's the right fit for you. For the price of an entry level Passat you can get a fairly loaded Golf as an example. Your base Passat also comes with a fairly unremarkable 5 cylinder engine which most reviewers agree isn't the greatest.

Cars are just a money pit. You should buy what you like of course, but don't blow your budget.



Can you please name some good cars at around $30k range? (bottom price / negotiated price etc.) Thx

[Voltex]

Can you please name some good cars at around $30k range? (bottom price / negotiated price etc.) Thx

OMG you idiot. You need to provide more details as to what exactly you're looking for.

[Jasonandme]

OMG you idiot. You need to provide more details as to what exactly you're looking for.

LOL. damn, i am so noob that i dont even know what type of questions I should ask myself.
All I was thinking was price-range, appearance and all that.

What type of questions should I ask myself?

I am very sorry about this.

[gilboman]

GOLF TDI :)

There should be 1 or 2 other threads about ppl asking about the golf have a look at it.

junk for city driving

[MrDisco]

What type of questions should I ask myself?

I already gave you a whole bunch of questions to ask yourself. -_-

Is this your first car purchase?

[DJ_Peanuts22]

What about a Honda Fit ?

GREAT on gas .........high resale.......cheap to own..........great size for city driving .....and you probably could get the top trim spec for around $23,000 ( or less ) ...' all in '

http://onsurga.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/2012-Honda-Fit.jpg

Made in China

[RCGA]

A used 328i

[vazilioz]

The mustang is the best bang for the buck for sure.

If your looking for a sedan, i would go with the new Altima.

[Supercooled]

Unless you are 40+ a camera shouls not be a consideration full stop. 25k base can net you a nice carlike the elantra se with tech. i would also throw in my hat towards the the focus tiranium.

[poedua]

LOL. damn, i am so noob that i dont even know what type of questions I should ask myself.
All I was thinking was price-range, appearance and all that.

What type of questions should I ask myself?

I am very sorry about this.

Here you go ( courtesy of google ).....

WHAT CAN I AFFORD ?

What size vehicle do I need ? ( how many people will be riding in it , cargo needs etc. )?

How much power do I want? ( engine size , horsepower )

What fuel mileage will I accept?

What type of ride am I looking for? ( i.e a car that handles well, is fast, ' fun to drive ' etc. or a laid back cruiser )

Do I care whether a car is front or rear wheel drive? Or do I prefer AWD or 4WD? ( Do I often drive in snow, ice, rain )

What safety features do I need to feel comfortable on the road?

How long will I have the vehicle?

Do I crave all the latest technology? ( MP3 , hands free phone features, a navigation system )?

What is my style? ( minimalistic or flashy )?

What options are “must-have" and what options are just nice?

How long will I keep this vehicle?

How important is resale value ?