topic Re: Need a 2nd car in Community Chat

Need a 2nd car

chihuahuamom — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 03:57:41 GMT

We have a 2005 Honda Accord, but I need to get another car. I would like to get a fairly new used with little mileage, but would also consider a new one. I borrowed a good friend's car recently and it was a Nissan Note Versa. I liked it very much. Sat higher than most smaller cars-almost like a van and had good visibility. Anyone have one of these cars and if so, do you like it? I also like Hondas (we had an Accord also in the past). What do you think? I don't have any distance to drive so it's just mostly around town. Thanks for any recommendations.

Re: Need a 2nd car

betteb — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 04:12:51 GMT

I love my 2012 Suzuki SX4 Sportback. Same thing, sit's just a bit higher than the average small car and has great visibility.

Re: Need a 2nd car

Allegheny — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 08:06:39 GMT

The only thing I can pass on about the Nissan Versa Note was what one guy told me when I was in the waiting area getting maintenance on my Maxima. He is a driver/pick up person for a blood lab company, his employer leases Versa Notes for their business. He wasn't very complimentary toward the vehicle, said it had a lot of issues and he was always having to bring it in. I was given the opinion there are quality issues with the car. Both my husband and I have Nissans, but more higher end models and never had any mechanical problems. I also like Hondas, had one for 11 years with no major issues.

Re: Need a 2nd car

queendiva — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 12:10:16 GMT

Can't go wrong with Hondas and Toyotas- new or pre-owned. Why not consider buying one that's CPO. low mileage and just returned from lease?

Re: Need a 2nd car

sgraham30 — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 12:58:24 GMT

@betteb wrote:
I love my 2012 Suzuki SX4 Sportback. Same thing, sit's just a bit higher than the average small car and has great visibility.

You haven't had any major issues with yours? I have a 2007 SX4 that I purchased used. I paid $10,000 for it when I bought it in 2009 & in the 6 years that I've owned it, it's had at least $8,000 (probably more) in repairs. Thankfully I purchased the extended warranty for the car but it expired last year. This year alone I've put $1,800 into it. It needed a new catalytic converter & a new rear differential a couple of years ago, the manufacturer warranty paid for. I like the car but it's been nothing but a headache since 6 months after I purchased it. Unless it's a manufacturer warranty repair, new parts are no longer available for repairs that the car needs, used Suzuki parts are used. The Suzuki dealerships that were close to me closed a few years ago, the closest one (the only one left in this area) is close to an hour away.

Re: Need a 2nd car

violann — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 13:14:03 GMT

Used Subaru. Absolutely GREAT CARS!!!

Re: Need a 2nd car

Laura14 — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 13:45:26 GMT

I have a Fiat 500 Pop which is much smaller than the Nissan or Honda but if you don't mind a smaller cheap car, it also has the pumped up seat you liked so us short people can see up and around the great big cars all of you grown adults have.

My previous car was a Toyota Echo which also had the SUV seating I think they called it. I had it for 13 years and it hardly caused me any trouble at all. I loved it. In fact, I was almost sorry I finally traded it in. They don't make it anymore (I think the Yaris took it's place) but if you can find a good Echo second hand, you can not beat it for reliability.

Re: Need a 2nd car

AnikaBrodie — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 14:35:11 GMT

Honda CR-V. We just purchased a new 2015 CR-V to replace our nine year old CR-V. Very reliable vehicle IMHO.

Re: Need a 2nd car

ChynnaBlue — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 14:49:22 GMT

I got a used Hyundai Elantra and love it. It's a 2011 and had under 40,000 miles on it, so it was still under the 5 year/60,000 mile warranty. And Hyundais come with 5 years unlimited roadside assistance which is transferable. I made use of when my battery died on a super cold day last winter. I can get roadside assistance through AAA or my insurance, but this means I don't have to pay for those until the 5 years or free service are up.

I got mine from an Enterprise car rental sales lot, so it had been a rental car, but it was in great condition and they have to maintain their cars in order to rent them out, so it had been serviced appropriately, too.

Re: Need a 2nd car

patbz — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 15:06:49 GMT

Prius prius prius. We are on our 2nd (traded 1st at 200,000 and #2 already has 100,000). No repair costs except routine maintenance. There's a reason you see so many on the roads, including many of the taxis in the world!

Re: Need a 2nd car

betteb — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 15:10:04 GMT

@sgraham30 wrote:
@betteb wrote:
I love my 2012 Suzuki SX4 Sportback. Same thing, sit's just a bit higher than the average small car and has great visibility.

You haven't had any major issues with yours? I have a 2007 SX4 that I purchased used. I paid $10,000 for it when I bought it in 2009 & in the 6 years that I've owned it, it's had at least $8,000 (probably more) in repairs. Thankfully I purchased the extended warranty for the car but it expired last year. This year alone I've put $1,800 into it. It needed a new catalytic converter & a new rear differential a couple of years ago, the manufacturer warranty paid for. I like the car but it's been nothing but a headache since 6 months after I purchased it. Unless it's a manufacturer warranty repair, new parts are no longer available for repairs that the car needs, used Suzuki parts are used. The Suzuki dealerships that were close to me closed a few years ago, the closest one (the only one left in this area) is close to an hour away.

***********************************************************************************

I've had it for almost 2 years without 1 single problem...nothing.

Re: Need a 2nd car

AngelPuppy1 — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 09:56:41 GMT

@ChynnaBlue

I totally agree! These are great cars and they have wonderful assistance.

Re: Need a 2nd car

ID2 — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 10:35:57 GMT

Maybe its because I grew up around Dearborn, MI and all of my family has worked for one of the big three. But I am totally aghast that most on this bb don't drive an American made vehicle! Maybe because I rarely even know anyone that doesn't drive an American made vehicle! But I know one thing, I would be committing car "adultery" if I ever did buy a foreign vehicle. Why do all of you strictly buy foreign made vechicles? Do you have something against the American made ones. I know its because how I was raised and definitely where I was raised that makes me have such strong opinions about this subject. Oh well, happy car shopping anyway.

Re: Need a 2nd car

Allegheny — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 13:17:30 GMT

ID2, I understand your feelings. Back in the 70s, if someone worked in a steel mill it was considered taboo to drive a foreign car to work and one risked harassment.

However now it is a global market. Foreign car companies are here in the US and portions of US cars are manufactured outside the US.

I think originally people started going foreign because those companies offered people options not available at time from the "big three". During the period of gas rationing in the 70s, most American made cars were huge and heavy and got rather poor gas mileage.

Of the 11 vehicles I have purchased during my lifetime, 6 were from US makers. Honestly, in the earlier years, sadly I had more problems with the US produced cars relating to mechanical and quality issues.

Now things are pretty much equal.

Re: Need a 2nd car

BlingQueen022 — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 13:54:23 GMT

@ID2 wrote:
Maybe its because I grew up around Dearborn, MI and all of my family has worked for one of the big three. But I am totally aghast that most on this bb don't drive an American made vehicle! Maybe because I rarely even know anyone that doesn't drive an American made vehicle! But I know one thing, I would be committing car "adultery" if I ever did buy a foreign vehicle. Why do all of you strictly buy foreign made vechicles? Do you have something against the American made ones. I know its because how I was raised and definitely where I was raised that makes me have such strong opinions about this subject. Oh well, happy car shopping anyway.

I don't purchase American made cars because they are junk! They will never, ever last as long as anything that Toyota makes. I've owned several Camrys and every single one of them are gas and go cars without ANY major repairs. I've owned a few Chevys many years ago, and they only lasted 50,000 miles. I will never purchase anything but a Toyota. I learned my lesson. By the way, Americans are building Toyotas, and I'm keeping American employed!!

Re: Need a 2nd car

stazgirl — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 17:42:45 GMT

I have a 2004 Lincoln Towncar with 150,145 miles, never a major problem and still going strong. I drive 50 round trip 5 days a week for work and drag my grandkids all over. I LOVE IT>>>>

Re: Need a 2nd car

lulu2 — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 18:08:11 GMT

@ID2 wrote:
Maybe its because I grew up around Dearborn, MI and all of my family has worked for one of the big three. But I am totally aghast that most on this bb don't drive an American made vehicle! Maybe because I rarely even know anyone that doesn't drive an American made vehicle! But I know one thing, I would be committing car "adultery" if I ever did buy a foreign vehicle. Why do all of you strictly buy foreign made vechicles? Do you have something against the American made ones. I know its because how I was raised and definitely where I was raised that makes me have such strong opinions about this subject. Oh well, happy car shopping anyway.

In 44 years of marriage we've owned only 2 foreign cars and both spent a lot of time being serviced.

All other cars were GM and only had trouble with 1. It had a hairline crack under a vinyl top and it took a number of trips before they figured where the roof was leaking.

We purchased 2 new GM cars since last fall. Love both of them.

Re: Need a 2nd car

Tinkrbl44 — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 18:25:45 GMT

@BlingQueen022 wrote:
@ID2 wrote:
Maybe its because I grew up around Dearborn, MI and all of my family has worked for one of the big three. But I am totally aghast that most on this bb don't drive an American made vehicle! Maybe because I rarely even know anyone that doesn't drive an American made vehicle! But I know one thing, I would be committing car "adultery" if I ever did buy a foreign vehicle. Why do all of you strictly buy foreign made vechicles? Do you have something against the American made ones. I know its because how I was raised and definitely where I was raised that makes me have such strong opinions about this subject. Oh well, happy car shopping anyway.
I don't purchase American made cars because they are junk! They will never, ever last as long as anything that Toyota makes. I've owned several Camrys and every single one of them are gas and go cars without ANY major repairs. I've owned a few Chevys many years ago, and they only lasted 50,000 miles. I will never purchase anything but a Toyota. I learned my lesson. By the way, Americans are building Toyotas, and I'm keeping American employed!!

Ditto ..... I purchased my slightly used 1995 Toyota Celica five years ago for $3k cash and it runs like a brand new car!

I also had a Mercedes at the time, but it was hard on gas and I needed a run around car. I have since sold the Mercedes.

Based on the performance and what other Toyota owners have told me, I'll always get this make from now on.

Re: Need a 2nd car

ChynnaBlue — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 13:46:26 GMT

@ID2 wrote:
Maybe its because I grew up around Dearborn, MI and all of my family has worked for one of the big three. But I am totally aghast that most on this bb don't drive an American made vehicle! Maybe because I rarely even know anyone that doesn't drive an American made vehicle! But I know one thing, I would be committing car "adultery" if I ever did buy a foreign vehicle. Why do all of you strictly buy foreign made vechicles? Do you have something against the American made ones. I know its because how I was raised and definitely where I was raised that makes me have such strong opinions about this subject. Oh well, happy car shopping anyway.

Did you know that many "foreign" car makers actually build their cars in America? And that many "American" car companies build their cars in foreign countries? The name of the company is no indicator of where the car is made or who has made it.

My Hyundai was manufactured in Alabama. I've toured the Toyota plant in San Antonio, but they also have factories in other states and build some of their most popular vehicles in the US because it's more efficient and cost effective. Toyota employees over 360,000 Americans right here in the US.

Honda also makes many cars in the US and has plants in Ohio, Indiana, and Alabama. 95% of the Hondas sold in the US were also assembled in the US by American workers.

So next time you buy a car, you might consider learning more about where the actual car was made instead of judging others based on the brands they drive.