[hipnotic]

I am looking into purchasing a new spare car to drive around and was wondering if you guys can give me some advice. I am looking for a car under $20,000 after everything that is of course reliable, safe, and great mpg. I will be commuting to LA which is like 80 miles round trip for me. What brand and model type do you guys believe to be the best bang for your buck and under $20,000 much help would be appreciated. Thanks

[ZJP]

you need to be a little bit more descriptive.

i.e. coupe/sedan, mt/at, rwd/awd, etc.

[hipnotic]

definitely has to be an automatic but it could be either a coupe or sedan it does not matter. preferably a small sedan. RWD or AWD does not matter.

[MarkR171]

Why not used 3 series?

For new and under 20k... How about a MINI?

If you go a touch over 20k, you have the current MPG king (Jetta TDi) at 22k.

Edit: Just saw rwd/awd.... but for a commuter, does fwd matter that much?

[ragingclue]

Fiesta, hands down.

[stickypaws]

My 25 cents (inflation):

Get something safe for certain. Reliable, of course. Try a 2-3 year old CPO car instead of brand new.

Think basic appliance. Japanese. Honda Civic (new under $20k.) Leave your performance/car enthusiast side of your brain out of this. Keep telling yourself this is an extra car, a tool to get you to work safely and on time for as little per mile as possible.

Downside to good mpg is lighter weight and less safe thanks to SUVs and trucks on the freeway. Depending on your daily budget maybe spend more on gas and get a bigger heavier car.

$20k isn't a whole lot, so spend wisely and try not to spend any of the $$ for a brand name badge.

[ragingclue]

Originally Posted by stickypaws

....

So he shouldn't get a Baltic Blue 997TT?

OP, he's right about the CPO but I would recommend with your commuting length a new car, as warranty/extended warranty may be easier to keep for a longer time.

People will recommend the Honda and Toyota appliances as being proven in this market, but don't forget the Fiesta has been a big player in other parts of the world already, so you won't have to worry about introductory model niggles and issues.

[stickypaws]

Originally Posted by ragingclue

So he shouldn't get a Baltic Blue 997TT?

OP, he's right about the CPO but I would recommend with your commuting length a new car, as warranty/extended warranty may be easier to keep for a longer time.

People will recommend the Honda and Toyota appliances as being proven in this market, but don't forget the Fiesta has been a big player in other parts of the world already, so you won't have to worry about introductory model niggles and issues.

Naw, that Baltic Blue P-car was once owned by a former M6 driving Canadian, now from Nigeria, who just bought a brand new not-yet-released RS5. Who'd want to sit in those smelly seats.

The Fiesta is a great car. I'd certainly give it props as an urban car. I just think it's too small for daily 80 mile SoCal freeway commutes. I'd personally feel safer and more comfortable in something besides a subcompact.

Freeway driving in the LA metro area is better done in something big and soft with lots of comfort. With enough electronic goodies to keep you entertained while stopped for an hour sitting through a Sig Alert.

And the thing about a CPO is that the mileage part of the warranty is better than the 4/50 type factory warranties. Most of them add another 2 years and up to 100k. If this is a long distance commuter car, then those add-on miles of the CPO warranty can be really worthwhile. A 2 year-old CPO car can give you the 4 years plus an extra 60k.

[ZJP]

I'm not sure if you're looking for something much newer, but if not, if you could find a really good condition E30 318/325, I would say to go in that direction. They make excellent dd/commuter cars and are great on gas. The motors are rock solid and run forever.

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by ragingclue

Fiesta, hands down.

Agreed. Test drove one a few weeks back...awesome little car. Fully optioned for under 20k and you can even have a dct in it

[blue2fire]

I would definitely go for the Civic coupé. Think about it: Fiesta is tiny and belongs to a class of car that isn't really what you would want on the Motorway, Corolla is hugely boring, and the Focus is well, POS without a question or shadow of doubt and the Subaru Impreza is too weedy when you go for the cheaper versions.

Leaves you with the Civic: excellent build quality, safety, economy and residuals. It also feels very solid as far as the drive goes. You could consider waiting for the new Focus, go for the CR-Z or wait for the Alfa small car that people expect to be on the way soon as well.

[hipnotic]

yeah performance is not important right now. I never thought about getting a used car since I like to be the only owner. So as of now the fiesta and the civic. I have test drove a mini before and I enjoyed it a lot especially its mpg is pretty incredible but i do not know if i can get one new for under 20? Any other opinions?

[hipnotic]

what are the spare cars you guys drive for commuting to work or taking it to the grocery?

[hipnotic]

what do you guys think of the honda fit?

[hipnotic]

my total came out to be 16,450 for that car and it is getting 33 mpg. What you guys think?

[ragingclue]

The Fit is a good car, but if you're looking in that class, and you're going to be spending 80 miles a day in traffic, in the car, then I'd recommend you test drive the Fiesta, the Fit, and the Yaris. Don't bother with the Aveo, but you can if you want to.

The Civic is also a choice which can't be construed in any way as "wrong" but basically it boils down to what you want to drive for a good portion of the day, every day. The Fiesta has a great option for "auto", 6 speeds and gets better mileage than its manual counterpart. Plus, it's a sporty little car, and can be optioned out pretty much completely for under $20k. This includes Ford's SYNC, which is a good system in itself. Plus, it feels more than an appliance. If you're considering that class, I'd definitely recommend getting a taste of each option.

My daily is a 335, but I don't have a terrible commute, although I'm considering getting a Fiesta or waiting for the new Focus to take the pressure off the many ailing systems of my N54.

[ptack]

The big question is what's wrong with just using your 3? Sure you'll put a lot of miles on it and wear it out sooner, but spending another $20k plus insurance and maintanence on an additional car will cost more. You'd be better off just setting aside the money to replace the 3 when it starts to go. The more economical option would be to buy a used car that gets good mileage and has an excellent reputation for long-term reliability. Why spend $20k if you can accomplish the main goal (saving your 3) for less than half of $20k?

[hipnotic]

My sister is looking for a small convenient car for her to go to school over in LA. How reliable is the fiesta compared to the japanese makers? Honda and toyota seem to be very reliable but i do not know about the ford? any tips?

[ragingclue]

Originally Posted by josh06lau

My sister is looking for a small convenient car for her to go to school over in LA. How reliable is the fiesta compared to the japanese makers? Honda and toyota seem to be very reliable but i do not know about the ford? any tips?

The Fiesta is plenty reliable. But, like I said, the most important piece of advice is to test drive each if it's going to be used for 80 miles per day of commuting.

[Chenry135]

Fiesta x 1,000,000!!!!

[hipnotic]

wow i am impressed about how many ppl like the fiesta. how is its reliability compared to honda or toyota? I am comparing between the civic and the fiesta right now. Those are the two choices i am narrowing it down to. any opinions are welcomed.

[b0bab0i]

Honda FIt