I need a new car

[Notus Lotus]

Well, I've just had a crummy start to my New Year.

Got rear ended Saturday by a very apologetic young man and the insurance company is totalling my car.

Any recommendations on what brand I should be looking at? I like smaller, sportier cars, good mpg a must, and a decent warranty.

Any sites anyone can recommend to check out?

[Drivesme]

Well, I've just had a crummy start to my New Year.

Got rear ended Saturday by a very apologetic young man and the insurance company is totalling my car.

Any recommendations on what brand I should be looking at? I like smaller, sportier cars, good mpg a must, and a decent warranty.

Any sites anyone can recommend to check out?
Volkswagen.

[Notus Lotus]

Thanks, Drivesme.

Do you drive a VW?

[Drivesme]

Thanks, Drivesme.

Do you drive a VW?
I do, in fact I have driven them for years.
I have a Jetta TDI (diesel) right now that gets 47 mpg.
You can't tell it's a diesel, no smoke, no rattle and plenty of 'get up and go'.
They are hard to find on the used market because everyone wants them, but if you keep your eyes open you can find one.
Even new they are hard to find, they don't stay on the lot very long.

I have always had good luck with VW, but like any car, you sometimes find a lemon (I've had one) and you do have to take care of them.
Over all I think they are a great car and a real good value.

[lenny]

Probably a Toyota or maybe Honda. I don't drive either but I know they are pretty much the best thing on the market. I'm also pretty sure they trump VW in long-term reliability -- but Volkswagen does make some sweet cars as well and they have a lot of really cool sporty designs. Their TDI's are awesome.

I did drive a brand new Prius from Portland to Boise last spring. A friend had just bought it and we carpooled over. He doesn't like driving long distance, and I'm like a machine when it comes to that because I can't sleep in cars. I once drove I-95 from Hartford CT to Clearwater Florida non-stop. Really. Anyway, before driving it there were several things that turned me off about the Prius: it's looks, a faction of Prius drivers are too snooty, and the whole having to replace expensive batteries down the road part come to mind. After the drive I really felt it was one of the most kick-ass cars I'd ever driven. The batteries make the car really heavy and so its cornering ability was amazing. I was making 45mph turns at 70 and wasn't even pushing it. It's a very smooth ride, roomy, and comfortable as well. The power and acceleration were better than I expected, but that could be an issue if you want a little car that can throw you back in your seat -- the Prius couldn't quite do that. We filled up the gas tank in Portland and made it all the way to Boise with just under a quarter of a tank. Our highway gas mileage was like 10 mpg over what the sticker said it would get. There is a really cool easy to use dashboard computer that keeps track of all sorts of stuff like mpg...

I wouldn't necessarily recommend a hybrid...if I were in the market I'd get something else, but I was really impressed with a brand new Toyota so I thought I'd give my two cents. Let us all know what you decide on.

[lenny]

Found it! One of these (http://lotuscars.com/) has your name written on it! :D

[Notus Lotus]

Eureka!

Looks like my car, all right.

Can we keep the payments under 300$ a month?

:D
Seriously, thanks for your input, Lenny and Drivesme.

[Drivesme]

Found it! One of these (http://lotuscars.com/) has your name written on it!
My old boss has one of these!
I drove it and all I can say is :D:D:D:D

[Robbo]

Well, I've just had a crummy start to my New Year.

Got rear ended Saturday by a very apologetic young man and the insurance company is totalling my car.

Any recommendations on what brand I should be looking at? I like smaller, sportier cars, good mpg a must, and a decent warranty.

Any sites anyone can recommend to check out?

I'd check out the Boise Craigs List. (http://boise.craigslist.org/)There are quite a few decent used cars listed there, if you'd rather go through a dealer Hawkes Motors on Fairview has always treated me well.

[Robbo]

Oh and thanks for putting my auto woes into perspective. I had to replace the fuel pump in my wifes car over X-mas and New Years. Not to make you feel worse than you already do.......:o

[Bruce McAuley]

Specifically a 2006 Honda Fit with an automatic. See the link:
http://www.caranddriver.com/bestcars/12062/2007-honda-fit.html"]http://www.caranddriver.com/bestcars/12062/2007-honda-fit.html
Take it from an old used car salesman(for a short while):
Buy one used, a year or so old, from a dealer with a "certified" guarantee on it to 100,000 miles. When you buy a "certified" car they usually give you an extension on the factory warranty, and push it out to 100,000 miles total, as good as it gets these days.
It's a Honda, it handles decently, it has massive cargo space and 4 doors and is very good on mileage along with a 100,000 mile warranty AND it's around $15,000.:cool:
You could save a bunch if it's got the initial depreciation already done with and the longer warranty of the used market makes it very attractive.
Or find a Jetta diesel, I wouldn't mind one of those either, but the Honda is nicer, I think.
Heck, a new base Jetta is around $15,000 or so.
Good luck!
On edit, why the automatic?
It's better for towing!;)

Bruce

[JIMV]

Well, I've just had a crummy start to my New Year.

Got rear ended Saturday by a very apologetic young man and the insurance company is totalling my car.

Any recommendations on what brand I should be looking at? I like smaller, sportier cars, good mpg a must, and a decent warranty.

Any sites anyone can recommend to check out?

I won't get specific as to brand but, I bought a new Jeep in June, I used an internet site that dorected me to a local dealer and arranged the entier thing on line. I saved over $6K on the deal.

Figure out what yu want and then try the internet to find it.