Author Topic: Leasing a New car... who owns any of these? (Read 1329 times)

SKurj · « **on:** June 04, 2003, 11:35:25 PM »

Heyas, well the big old bonneville ate the back of a soccer mom's mini van.... (sadly blame falls on me... the idjit that ran the red light causing the accident took off before anyone could get a plate +(...

Anyways, I am looking for a cheap car (under $20K) here is what I've looked at: (all standard trans and AC, some have a few more toys than others)

Hyundai elantra: (135hp)highest monthly lease payment over 4yrs

Saturn ION1: largest of the bunch, most HP(140, 2.0L) and 2nd lowest payment

2004 Nissan Sentra: (126HP 1.8L)best handling so far, interior a shade on the ugly side

Mazda Protege: only looked at the 1.6(104hp or there abouts), but nice interior and nice to drive, but abit buzzy and noisy, gutless wonder. May look again at the 2.0L (130hp i think)

KIA RIO RXV: (104HP)best warranty, cheapest of the lot

Ford Focus: drive one tomorrow, probably the ZX3(130HP)

Honda LX Coupe: (115HP)2nd most expensive, most features, coolest, drive one tomorrow, so far I am thinking this will be the one...

Dodge 2.0 SX (neon): (132HP) looking tomorro

Suzuki Aerio: (145HP)think I will not even bother with this one, lotsa power for its size (more than any other in the list) but too ugly

The Saturn I really liked, the plastic panels seem a good idea. Does it count as a domestic... I notice it shares an engine with the cavalier/sunfire, which I refuse to even look at. Thats the downside to it.

Right now I think its gonna come down to a choice between the Focus, the Saturn, and the Honda. I think as far as holding its value the honda wins hands down (not done any real research of the other cars in this area though) The honda dealer will even let ya walk away from your 4yr lease after 3yrs due to how well the car holds its value. Kinda seems silly to tell customers that... I wanna see it in writing..
Saturn bonuses: free weekly car washes as long as you own the car
Focus: 4 free LOF's, $50 off any brake work, $300 off any body repairs over $500.
With the exception of the KIA, the rest all basically share similar warranties. 3yr 60,000 bumper to bumper, 5yr 100,000 power train, and the emiisions stuff. Gonna revisit exhaust, only recall the mazda having the exhaust system warrantied.. think it was something like 10yrs!

Anyone had experience with any of these cars? How about the cost of the first services? Honda salesman says first major service is 170,000km... if thats true then the next owner can worry about it heh.

oh yeah, colour choice gonna be silver cuz it hides the dirt well. If thats not available ... black just because!

oops one more question... can you modify a leased car at all? just wondering if I wanted to change shocks springs wheels and tires etc.. never thought to ask the dealers. Wouldn't even consider touching the power train while under warr.

SKurj

Mini D · « **Reply #1 on:** June 04, 2003, 11:38:21 PM »

Take a peak at the Mini Cooper. Its more roomy than a Focus and you can get one new for under $20k. And... its a hell of a lot more fun than any of the cars you have listed.

MiniD

funkedup · « **Reply #2 on:** June 05, 2003, 12:15:54 AM »

I've heard good things about the Focus.
Civics are always great.
Hyundais have come a long way.

funkedup · « **Reply #3 on:** June 05, 2003, 12:17:25 AM »

Also this is on the high end of the price range, but the Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS is a lot more car than any of the ones mentioned, including wussy version of the Mini that DJ owns.

funkedup · « **Reply #4 on:** June 05, 2003, 12:24:21 AM »

Check out Toyota too. Corolla is smurfy as hell, but the lower end Celicas would fit your budget. They reputedly handle very well, and they are pretty sleek.

Acura RSX is another one right at $20k, but a lot of car for the money.

Tarmac · « **Reply #5 on:** June 05, 2003, 01:14:12 AM »

I've owned a 91 Saturn for the last 6 years or so. Not an Ion obviously, but an SL1 SOHC. 91k miles on it, never had anything expensive done to it (power steering pump died once, leaked on alternator and killed it - $300 buck fix). One $300 fix in a car's 12 year life is a good deal to me.

Plastic body panels are excellent. Thing still looks like it's a year old. People are very surprised when I tell them it's a 91.

Saturn is owned by GM, but is independently operated - Saturn was try number 2 at a new mentality for making cars (GEO being try #1). So it's American, but not controlled by GM.

If I didn't have my heart set on something with 4WD to do some off-roading in, I'd buy another Saturn in a heartbeat. Especially some of the new ones, they look great IMO.

NUKE · « **Reply #6 on:** June 05, 2003, 01:16:51 AM »

I recomend buying and restoring Pacers. Pacers, the original "bubble" car, look fantastic tooling down the highway.

mjolnir · « **Reply #7 on:** June 05, 2003, 04:43:44 AM »

Personally, I'd rather walk than be caught in a Hyundai or a KIA. The secretary here used to work for the roadside assistance hotline for them, said she heard all sorts of weird things breaking on them. I think she even got a call of a KIA that just started to melt on one side. If a brand new car only costs 8,000 bucks, there's probably a reason.

Anyway, I did own a '97 Neon for a while, and never had any problems with it. Great little car, got me from Maine to Colorado a couple times. Pretty good on gas mileage too, if that's a concern. IIRC, I was getting a little over 40 mpg on the highway, around 36-38 normally.

Also, I have a friend here with a Mini Cooper S, and that's a fun little car, but the key word there is little. If you want to put more than 2 people and a gym bag in there, you're in trouble.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #8 on:** June 05, 2003, 07:22:14 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Mini D
Take a peak at the Mini Cooper. Its more roomy than a Focus and you can get one new for under $20k. And... its a hell of a lot more fun than any of the cars you have listed.

MiniD

He speaks the truth.

Wanker · « **Reply #9 on:** June 05, 2003, 08:37:55 AM »

Guys, sounds like he needs to buy a new car to get low financing and/or low monthly payments. The Mini-Cooper would be too expensive.

As a former Saturn owner('96 SL2), I must admit that I never had any mechanical problems with my SL2 for the 7 years I drove it. It was a good little car. Saturn has 0% interest financing for 5 years, too. Plus, the Saturn service dept. is top-notch.

That being said, The Saturn fit & finish and resale value cannot hold a candle to the Honda Civic.

All-in-all, after having the Saturn for 7 years, I regretted not buying the Honda Accord or Civic back in 96'.

If I were you, I'd go for the Honda.

Wanker · « **Reply #10 on:** June 05, 2003, 08:40:32 AM »

Here's another reason to like the Civic: http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/00031.htm

You've just proved to yourself that accidents don't just happen to the "other guy". Be safe, get the Civic.

SKurj · « **Reply #11 on:** June 05, 2003, 08:46:20 AM »

hey fellas.. the mini cooper is over $20k here in canada eh, the most expensive cars I'm looking at are actually under $19k here. If I could afford a mini, or even the subaru I would have considered them. Cheapest deal on a mini advertised here is $100+ more a month inc. taxes than anything I've listed.

here's some bad news... just phoned for an insurance quote... I'm 36, haven't had a ticket in 10 years until this accident. Unfortunately this is the second accident claim in 3 yrs, I've never made any other accident claims before....
This is canadian $, the honda is the most expensive to insure at $200 more than the cheapest per year:
$5400 a yr....

Both accident claims likely total around $1000 more than that.

Might try and get the car in the folks name, and see what the rate is...
Or I'm gonna be buyin a schwinn

SKurj

SKurj · « **Reply #12 on:** June 05, 2003, 11:45:36 AM »

To put in perspective... priced a base Mini Cooper: 435 a month 4 yr lease, civic coupe 272 a month canuck bux don't ferget

SKurj

funkedup · « **Reply #13 on:** June 05, 2003, 11:55:46 AM »

I forgot we were talking funny money, my bad.

Mini D · « **Reply #14 on:** June 05, 2003, 11:57:36 AM »

Ah... canuck.

I still say get the mini and just work harder.

MiniD