Please help pick a vehicle!!

Brianna · Apr 17, 2013

J's mom is going to be buying a car and asked me to enlist your help!

Budget is a firm $5,500. Would prefer a vehicle that can last a long time with minimal cost of repairs, decent mileage, will be booster friendly (not for now, but she'll likely have this car when he moves to a booster). There's no firm limit on model year or max # of miles- I'm hoping you all will tell me the max # of miles on a car to accept based on what make/model it is.

Please help

SafeDad · Apr 17, 2013

2006 or newer Hyundai Sonata. Decent crash test results. I think ESC and side curtain airbags are standard. Can probably find a 2006 near 100k miles negotiable to that price depending on your location. Have an independent mechanic inspect for major issues obviously. For example:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=341046188

Jessica61624 · Apr 17, 2013

I just bought a 2006 Hyundai sonata with 130k miles for $6200. Here that's a very good price. I do love my car except the 3 across issues!

Brianna · Apr 17, 2013

A nearby zip code is 14225- I know prices are lower because of salt damage here. We would be willing to travel a few hours to pickup the right car.

How long do Hyundais normally last?

SafeDad · Apr 17, 2013

That one I linked happens to be a few hours away so probably a good price reference at least.

I think Hyundai has improved their reputation a lot in the last 5-10 years. The Sonata is generally pretty highly rated from those years at both Consumer Reports and TrueDelta.com for reliability. I happen to think most modern cars are pretty reliable, though. Probably worth checking typical problems, though, especially if there are known issues with major things like engine/transmission.

Brianna · May 9, 2013

Thanks Jessica and Darren

My friend is wondering if there are any other good options she should look at.

SafeDad · May 10, 2013

2007 Chevrolet Malibu?

The 2005-2006 models are essentially the same, but side curtain airbags were not standard and hard to find as options those years and the car didn't perform well in side impact tests without them.

Here's an example, though not sure I'd buy from a place called "Crazy Cheap Cars.com" lol!

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=113247180

StillThankful · May 10, 2013

Please share this site with your friend: http://www.carsurvey.org/. It's a site that owners of the vehicles have the opportunity to post their opinions. It's the good, the bad, and the ugly. Besides praying and reading the Consumer reports rates

)), I always read the posts on that site before making a purchase.

FWIW, the 2006 Hyundai Sonata got pretty good reviews from it's owners: http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/hyundai/sonata/2006/single-page/

HTH

Brianna · May 10, 2013

She's looking at http://www.buckeyesuperstore.com/us...-Malibu-1a63d8a80a0a00490005787cc75fceaf.htm#

How does one go about obtaining an independent mechanic inspection so far away from home?

*eta
Would this be sufficient? http://inspectmyride.com/vehicle-inspections/premium-inspection/what-we-inspect

ncchuck · May 10, 2013

:yeahthatlove:

CPSDarren said:
2006 or newer Hyundai Sonata. Decent crash test results. I think ESC and side curtain airbags are standard. Can probably find a 2006 near 100k miles negotiable to that price depending on your location. Have an independent mechanic inspect for major issues obviously. For example:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=341046188

SafeDad · May 10, 2013

No idea, sorry!

Please help pick a vehicle!!

Brianna

New member

SafeDad

CPSDarren - Admin

Jessica61624

New member

Brianna

New member

SafeDad

CPSDarren - Admin

Brianna

New member

SafeDad

CPSDarren - Admin

StillThankful

New member

Brianna

New member

ncchuck

New member

SafeDad

CPSDarren - Admin

Car-Seat.Org Facebook Group

Sponsors

Forum statistics