A friend suggested this as a different angle for these “for the money” posts. I was intrigued, so here ya go!
Best car for the money. Let the strange, strong passions of car preference collide!
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No car. I miss my Manhattan days.
Yes, yes. I know the socially acceptable thing to do in Decatur in slam cars at every opportunity!
Not a slam. I was just happiest when I didn’t have to deal with a car and could rent or borrow a car for road trips. Happy now also that FM Chubs has moved out and we’re down to two cars and an insurance bill that’s about $2,500 lighter.
I have a standing pet peeve about the amount of time otherwise progressive minded Decatur-ites spend driving … around Decatur. Sometimes very short distances.
Worse, they think you’re crazy when you tell them that you walk places. It’s amazing how many people look at me like I’m nuts when I tell them I regularly walk the mile (a mile!) to the square. Those same people think I’m certifiably insane when I admit that I cross the tracks for the mile and a half walk to Trackside. I usually don’t even get to the part about walking the 3 miles to or from Little 5 Points…
Well really, you really shouldn’t approach people on the street and just start telling them how much you walk. It’s a bit off-putting!
Like the people I accost on the street even let me get to the part about where I’ve been and where I’m going…
Do they let you get to the part where you tell them your license has been taken away from you and that’s the real reason you walk?
It depends on how recently I’ve shaved.
[Full Disclosure: My license has never been "taken away". There was that one time when I realized it had been expired for 14 months, but I figured that out all on my own so I didn't even need to be bailed out before I renewed it.]
But there’s just so much delicious parking to be had! Mmmmmmm….deck parking, free street parking after 6p…grrrllg (or however you spell that noise Homer Simpson makes).
Awesome 6 word story – Free street parking after 6: Decatur!
I think you should probably reconsider Decatur’s brand. This town is now defined more as family-centric than politically active. Shuttling 2-3 kids to piano lessons, sports practices, scout meetings, etc. 7 days a week in all kinds of weather on tight schedules means lots of driving around town.
It wouldn’t have to mean quite so much driving around town if more people would (1) commit to driving less and (2) expect/encourage/allow kids to move around more independently.
Yes, I will allow/encourage my kid to walk home from school, walk the 1.5 miles back for a 7:30 practice, practice for 2 hours, and then let him walk home after running at practice for the last 2 hours, all while lugging his books and sports equipment. I will commit to that at once. There, problem solved.
Well, if you live a mile and a half from the school, then he can take the bus home. That eliminates one trip.
I doubt she meant every single day through snow and thunderstorms, just driving less. I was taken aback at the response from parents when the subject of moving the high school over to Devry came up. The main complaint was how teenagers are incapable of negotiating traffic and distances by themselves. Obviously there are days and times that aren’t ideal and they could use the extra shuttling help, but some days, teenagers can get around without parental help, I hope. Even if it were 4 miles,if it’s nice out and they’ve got the time, why can’t teenagers walk or bike a few miles?
Wow – I just returned from my 2.4 mile round trip in the car to get the kids from gymnastics to see all this. Sure — there are lots of reasons to have to play kid shuttle. I meant more along the lines of what J_T said.
I am glad I did not ask why so many parents drive their kids to school in the morning instead of riding the bus
Just the fact of living in Decatur means I’ve committed to driving less. I do less than 5,000 miles a year, even though I drive to work every day.
I’m just saying it’s unreasonable to think that this town, brimming with young families, would be walking all the time.
One thing to keep in mind with ferrying children around is that distance is not the only logistical factor; there’s also time. For example, even if one’s children walk or ride the bus most of the time, there’s many instances when the time interval between activity A and activity B does not allow for walking. We find that children old enough to walk alone, even across town on some fairly busy and/or deserted streets at night, are best able to negotiate the time between the end of school and the next after school or sports activity because the middle and high schools are centrally located. But it gets tricky around dinner time when one has to negotiate something like a sport practice in one corner of Decatur, then dinner in another corner of Decatur, then an evening activity like a rehearsal, another sport practice, tutoring,volunteering, job, whatever in another corner of Decatur. There just isn’t enough time to walk or even run or cycle. And if three children are in the mix, the sherpa has to factor in staged drop-offs and pick ups. And the many school months when it gets dark early adds another dimension–less safe to bike and/or be on deserted and/or busy streets. And don’t forget the parents’ work that funds this whole complicated lifestyle in Decatur. Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to work from home.
+1 FM Fats!
Well, we’ve been happy with our Kia Sorento (2011) the past two years. Sure, it’s not the best at saving gas, but it’s a bit better than some other SUVs. If we didn’t have children I’m not sure I’d be driving it, though. Standard options for the price make it a decent deal.
It may be a little pricy but the BEST car hands down is my Tesla Model S. Potentially the last car I will ever need to buy.
STARR X – I think we have seen you driving around and likely taken pictures. My husband desperately wants a Model S.
Is there some non-obsolescence built into Teslas? That would be a very poor business plan… (There are always a couple parked at Atlanta Tech Village where I work.)
Yes we NEEEEEEED that car!
Any idea where I could rent one for a day or weekend? ( for a b-day gift)
That automobile is truly a work of art. Just gorgeous.
Can a car starting at more than $70k be a best car for the money candidate?
Our Honda has gotten me thinking that they are no longer worth the Honda “premium.” I’m happy to pay more for a car if I get higher quality/fewer repairs. I would rate our Odyssey a “good” overall, but I don’t think I would buy another Honda because I believe their quality is no longer significantly better than other manufacturers.
My next car, which will be purchased in the next year or so, will most likely be a Mazda or Subaru. We hang on to our cars for a long time, so they need to be reliable.
+1 on the Mazda. Our 2005 Mazda 6 bought new was priced lower than an Accord or a Camry and has been reliable and nice to drive. Our 2000 Sienna minivan is a warhorse, still going strong at 220K miles.
When that model s battery goes out it will be stiff. What is projected lifespan of battery?
When I got the car back in January, it had Version 4.1 installed. I am now on Version 4.4 with each upgrade offering new features. Like a giant iPad on wheels! As for the battery, sure there will be some energy loss. But after 8 years drop the old battery out and put a new one in that gets twice the charge/range.
Love my new Kia Soul and feel I get a lot of bang for the buck with it.
Starr X, I was behind you one day rolling through Kirkwood and Oakhurst trying to see what the heck you were driving because it was such a standout vehicle. Had to do some googling when I got home to figure it out. Very sweet car.
I used to be dedicated to Hondas; driving one to 200000 miles and the second one to 176000, until that one was stolen for parts out of my oakhurst driveway, then my slightly newer 90000 mile one had the catalytic convertor stolen 11 months later. Reliable but burgularized isn’t working for me!
Had a 1991 Honda Civic for 15 years, and now have had a 2006 Honda Civic for almost 8 years. Not sure how the newer ones are, but I would not trade mine.
May I point out that a Tesla Model S starts at about $62,400?
Having owned just three cars since 1987 ALL of them Hondas; I would say buy a Honda!
I recently traded in my 1998 Toyota Celica GT for 2012 Mazda 5. I got it for about 18k. I really love it so far! It seats 6, but is compact enough for in-town / downtown driving. Although it is a mini-van, I think it is still pretty stylish.
We just got a mazda 5 and love it. Perfect for 3 kids..storage is tight but its a minimalist version of a minivan which we love..great mileage too.
The 2008 Mazda5 was our first family car. We found it as a “station wagon” recommended by consumer reports. We didn’t plan to sell this car after 3 great years, but we got a shared commute and don’t need it. Posting it on craigslist next week.
Our 2002 Subaru wagon is going strong with 182K miles. Has had nothing but routine maintenance and the usual old age repairs (replace engine gaskets, timing belts). And the local service at 6-Star is awesome – as good as the old Royal Subaru.
If you see someone driving an Odyssey, fear for your life. That vehicle seems to attract the worst possible drivers.
Then I guess you better stay clear of the elementary schools. About half of all the kids at Clairmont ride in an Odyssey (when they aren’t walking or rolling to school, of course).
Actually, Honda Odysseys are passé. Now it’s Honda CRVs.
Third Gen (2010-present) Prius.
– For the 20-30K sedan price range, the options you can get when compared to other models is better
– When compared to other “hatchbacks” you will generally have more storage space
– Gas mileage obviously, gas won’t be going down anytime in the future
– People like to tell you the battery is a big issue but the prius taxis that have been out in fleets have been running well over 100K miles without needs a battery replacement. Warrantied for 8years/100K, cost of replacement will go down by then.
– smooth ride, no need for speediness around these parts
– fun to see peoples faces when they realize something is silently following them in the parking lot.
– great consumer reports ratings
I LOVE my Prius. For 40,000 care-free miles, I ‘ve enjoyed filling up just once a month.
My Prius bores me silly.
My 2005 Prius is by far the most intelligent car purchase of my life (I am 71+). I get over 40 mpg and have done nothing but change oil etc (same brakes). It’s deceptively peppy on the highway and is very comfortable. It has taken back and forth to the center of Mexico twice and will again in June.
And oh, what money it is!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/16/aaa-car-ownership-costs/2070397/
For a walkable, transit served place like Decatur that allows your household to get by on one car instead of two, that means $750 a month to spend on something else. Like add it to a 5% mortgage and you can afford another $80,000 in mortgage loan principal.
But then again, that Tesla is mighty schweet… Damn it!
I miss my bottom-of-the-line 1998 Toyota Tacoma 5-speed, which I bought brand new for about $9,500. Had to trade it in for an Element as the kidlings grew older (and larger). I really like the Element, but the Taca-mo was a blast to drive and hauled a world of stuff for me (and friends and neighbors) without complaint or failure. Super dependable and no room in its tiny cabin for more than one child or two Italian supermodels. But don’t you know, I didn’t realize how much I loved that little truck until I let it go.
I know how you feel. I’ll never love any vehicle the way I loved my ’81 Civic hatchback. Finally got rid of it at 150k+ miles because it had no a/c. (One Atlanta summer was enough, in an office job w/ pantyhose the order of the day.) Best car I ever had, drove it back & forth across the US several times (east-west and north-south including Alaska). It never asked for anything but regular oil changes, tires, belts & hoses and a new battery now and then. Wish I still had it, bet it would still go. Even more, wish I knew who is now building affordable cars of comparable quality.
“Even more, wish I knew who is now building affordable cars of comparable quality.”
We need a few more years to confirm the dependability, but I am starting to think that both Hyundai and Kia are stepping into that role. They have always just been cheap cars. But, now it seems they are building quality, but less expensive, cars.
Those two are at the top of my short list.
i’ve got 150000+ miles on my 2006 taco (although mine has all the fun offroad options) and that thing puts a smile on my face every time i get in it. if it ever dies, you can bury me with it.
I doubt it’s the best buy for the money, but since I was twenty, I wanted my 40th bday present to myself to be a sexy little black Audi. Unfortunately, in the meantime, I have become really interested in personal finance blogs and have fun saving money and managing my finances. And I wonder if when that day finally comes, I’ll want to part with my no car payment, and crazy low insurance to spring for one. Any Audi drivers out there? Tell me it’s not worth it please!
Audis are a hoot to drive but once they’re out of warranty, they’re very expensive to maintain. (Every little part costs the earth.) Also, it is essentially an evil company that did not stand by its product when a whole generation of A4s and VW Passats proved susceptible to oil line clogs. The company used loopholes to avoid reimbursing owners for thousands and thousands of dollars in engine replacement costs, even though they knew about the problem and could have done a recall. A class action suit was eventually settled years later and some owners received partial reimbursement, but the whole thing was thoroughly shoddy. If you’re gonna splurge, give some other company your money. FWIW, speaking from the far side of 40, it’s not worth it. Save your money, or spend it on something besides a car.
We had a B4 Passat (1997), which was really about half Audi parts at the time. It was great for 2 years, and a money hole for the next 3 ($2k/year in repairs for 2 consecutive years). Every 3 months something else broke, and no repair was ever less than $500. At year 5 we got rid of it.
Too bad — it really was fun to drive (pun intended). That 6 cylinder 2.8L engine drove like a sports car, and still got decent mileage.
I miss my Audi. I had a cute A4 – like an old house, it had “character”…..once we had a family and it kept dying on me, I decided I needed something more reliable. My mom-vehicle does not drive like my little Audi did, but I know it is safe and will get me where I need to be….fun to drive, but a total money pit…although I would have gotten another one if we were going to lease it and get rid of it in 3 years.
Sounds the same as my experience owning a 2002 Passat. Fun drive, loved the look, but kept needing $1000-$1500 repairs. After the third repair in three years I sold it.
I’ve heard that if one is going to drive a German vehicle, BMW is the way to go. Supposed to be much more reliable. But I don’t know-my family now drives a Ford and a Honda.
Yikes, that was sooooooo not what I wanted to hear.
Are you allowed to be a car guy in Decatur? I love that I can walk and do walk downtown 9 times out of 10 visits. I walk to get my eyes checked, I walk to my doctor’s downtown office, I walk to get ice cream, I walk to get coffee on the weekends, I walk to the park with the kids,I walk to get my hair butchered, I walk to the bar, I walk to drool over scooters…etc etc…that being said…I would love to be in a sports car/sedan driving the twisties on the weekends in north Ga! Does that make me a bad Decaturite (who only drives 5k miles a year!)?
Best car for the money…sans kids…e36 m3. With kids…really….whatever you like that has the latest and greatest safety stuff.
Worst car I’ve owned was a 2002 Honda Civic…sure it would go forever, but I felt like I was driving a tin can…just did not feel safe in that car. If I’m going to feel unsafe in a car it better be a thrilling ride!
Ah yes, back in the day I owned an E36 M3. Totally awesome car, so much fun to drive. And prior to 1998 (IIRC) they made it in a sedan, so it was (small) kid friendly! The E46 was super cool, too, but so expensive. And if STG thinks maintaining an Audi is expensive, try a M3!
Hubs has an e46 convertible (not the M3, but I think it has M3 wheels, or something like that). Great for kids when the top is down, a pain when we can’t have the top down to get the kid in and out of the carseat in the back. At least he does most of the maintenance himself, so we are saving a little.
One of my dream cars is an E30 M3, I’ve had 5 E30s, one E28, and two E24s. My favorite is the E24. The 80s have to be my favorite generation of BMW. Parts aren’t too expensive and they are very easy to work on. Even in Decatur without a driveway!
No it does not make you a bad Decaturite. It is being pragmatic and economical. Long trips are why cars are great. Especially for getting out of town.
I have similar habits …I walk/bike/MARTA a majority of my workdays and around town, but save the 15 mpg Eurovan poptop for the weekends. But it crawls up those mountain roads, holding back your car
While we’re going down memory lane, I still miss my 1987 Toyota Tercel Wagon. The one with the real boxy shape. I would buy another if they still made them.
Meanwhile, keep the suggestions coming. We’ve needed to replace one of our vehicles for about 10 years now and the other for about 5 years. I guess my strategy of waiting until the prices came down wasn’t a good one, ha! Plus, I can’t spend that kind of money unless I’m feeling a lot of enthusiasm about the purchase. Right now, nothing’s calling my name.
I love cars and enjoy reading and talking to friends/neighbors/acquaintances about them. So here’s my take based strictly on personal opinions, anecdotes and a little bit of experience. Please don’t flame me when you disagree.
Toyota – staid, often boring, competitively priced, high quality/reliability, one of the cheapest to maintain. The Camry, which is more American than most American cars, is an exemplar of this description.
Honda – see my thoughts in an earlier post. Still very good cars, but the competition has caught up and their edge is disappearing.
Nissan – don’t know a lot about them, but the owners I know don’t seem dissatisfied. The Altima is a strong competitor in its class.
Mitsubishi – forget it. They continue to lose market share given their poor customer service, decreasing breadth of offerings and middling reliability.
Subaru – owners seem to LOVE theirs, and they are good looking, reliable vehicles. They seem to have finally aligned their pricing with the competition. The WRX STI, at 300 hp, is fast as lightning.
Acura/Infiniti/Lexus – very expensive big brothers to their Honda/Nissan/Toyota siblings. In my opinion, it’s not worth the higher price and expensive maintenance, but I’m sure many will disagree. All are beautiful cars, but damn, those prices…
Hyundai/Kia – the Koreans have done amazing things in terms of quality, ride and amenity improvements, and their warranty is best in class. The Genesis line is truly impressive. Definitely worth consideration.
BMW – seriously classy cars in every way. Well-built and fun to drive. But you pay for that privilege, and they are expensive to maintain after the warrantly expires. They’ve come a long way since the BMW 2002 and Bavaria.
Audi – see BMW
Mercedes – see BMW and Audi, but add even more $$. I think they have an identity crisis. Luxury? Sport?
VW – They have benefited from their partnerships with Porsche and owning Audi has also helped. The CC is a very nice car, the Jetta sells well, but I don’t think they’ve figured out how to really break in to the minivan and SUV classes. I’m disappointed in the new Beetle; it lost its cuteness in favor of a questionable “sporty” look.
Ford – the Focus has made huge strides against the competition, and the Fusion and Mustang are great looking cars. The F-150 is still a big seller, but they sure are big. From what I’ve seen, quality continues to improve, but I think the new lines are still too young to determine how they will hold up ten years down the road.
GM – they have done well to consolidate their brands and create more differentiation between lines. The Cadillac CTS is seriously FAST, the Chevrolets still fail to inspire, and Buicks are unremarkable. Consistency of quality is still suspect, but I believe it’s improving.
Chrysler – run away. Far away. The new Challenger is one of the best looking cars on the road, but jeez, what a pig. Since the fire sale to Fiat, quality hasn’t seen much improvement and I anticipate another implosion a la the Daimler/Chrysler fiasco. They have tried hard with the 200 and 300, and the minivans still sell, but don’t plan on keeping them much past the warranty expiration.
OK, all done for now.
Wow! Thanks! This goes into file with the latest Consumer Reports Car Ratings issue. Eventually some vehicle with a reasonable price will call to me….
I don’t love cars but have spent time this winter reading up, in preparation to buying one. (Current one purchased 14 yrs 10 mos ago w/ resolve to drive it for 15 years or until wheels fall off. It’s creaking, I’m prepared to abandon it any day (will have AAA tow it off the road, of course), never buy more groceries than I’m prepared to carry home afoot.
Anywho, your summary echoes and confirms my general perspective on the marketplace right now. Thanks for the validation, I feel more confident now.
I concur on running far away from Chryslers. But I would add “fast” and “immediately” and “permanently”…
+10!
My Subaru Forester has been little trouble over 10 years. And now we have Six Star Service right here in town for the rare times when it is. That said, though, I don’t like what the alliance with Toyota has done to the Forester. One of the things I loved about it (and the old Outback) was that it was just the right size. The new ones get better gas mileage, but they’re bigger — and almost as ugly as most Toyotas (the current Camry has got to be the most hideously styled car on the planet).
Drove a new Ford Fusion on rental recently, and man, that was a nice car.
I wonder if Reese Witherspoon agrees with you on the Fusion.
Obviously not. She couldn’t keep her damn ass IN it!
The Fusion may in fact have a certain attraction for law enforcement — I, too, got a ticket in the it, but it wasn’t for drunk driving or obstructing justice. It was for traveling a little too fast through Jackson, an infamous South Carolina speed trap — or so I learned when I looked it up later. Drivers heading to the SC coast via Augusta: Beware!
I do have to say my wife bought the most amazing truck back in August. A new Ford F-150 with the Ecoboost twin turbo V6. Blast to drive and 25+ mpg in a big 4dr truck. Crazily enough it has more options than my friends Porsche Cayenne S.
I traded in a SAAB 9-3 convertible for a Honda Fit about a year ago. Best decision of my life (for obvious reasons). The Fit is a Sport, so it is still zippy. You can’t beat the way it handles, the uitilty, milage and easy up-keep (I only have to get the oil changed every 8,000 miles) for the price. Not to mention the visibility. Perfect car for dealing with the wear and tear of Atlanta traffic, and road trips. My dog’s a pretty big fan as well.
How does your walrus like it?
Loves it!