Community Chat

[Laura14]

I'm with you sister.  It's even getting hard to find an affordable small car anymore which is a safety feature for me because I'm little and not comfortable driving SUVs and sedans.  Nor can I afford the expense of larger gas tanks and tires and insurance.  

I finally bought a new car after 14 years and some days I still want that little car back with my roll up windows and no alarm system.  I was also extremely uncomfortable with them loading my phone info into some computer for hands free.  I never talk and drive at the same time.  I think it's ridiculous to drive and talk on a phone at the same time hands free or not.  It can wait.  

And I also drive a stick.  It was my last thing left standing that at least cut my sticker price a little bit since I'm paying for things I'll never use anyway.  Some day a car manufacturer is going to get smart and bring the basic small car back to the market.    If it's reliable, they'd make a killing on volume alone.

[sweetee2]

We had to order one. We went to the dealership and ordered the car we wanted. It was the base model , then we added tinted windows, all wheel drive and picked the color. Even after that the dumb car came with it's own phone number through on star.

[2blonde]

@SaRina  Oh My!  Can I please ask what kind of car that was with roll up windows and no inside trunk release?  I can't even imagine.

[2blonde]

@Laura14  You and I both still like driving a manual transmission!  When I bought my 2014 Mustang, I saved $1,200 by not getting the automatic!

[Laura14]

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@2blonde wrote:

@Laura14  You and I both still like driving a manual transmission!  When I bought my 2014 Mustang, I saved $1,200 by not getting the automatic!

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@2blonde  Have Fiat, will fly with my five speed!  Beep, beep!!  

[willdob3]

The base models have the fewest bells and whistles.

My current car came with a moonroof. I did not want one! I'd have gotten it w/o one if I could. Well, guess what?! I love my moonroof and my next car (plan to buy next year) will have one, too.

It helps if you get a chance to drive a rental (or a friend/relative's car) that has lots of bells and whistles. That way you can try them out and see what they are like. Doing that has given me a few surprises & I no longer say I don't want all the bells and whistles. There are definitely ones I don't want and won't use.

[queendiva]

@Big Sister: to get less technology in a car and not break the bank, my suggestion would be to consider a model that is just a few years old with very low mleage. Finding cloth seats may be one of the more difficult things. Mostly leather or "pleather" now. Maybe a base model 2015 or 2016 is available now with end of model year discount. I'm sure a dealer would do a good price for a car with less technology, as such a car is probably still sitting on a lot somewhere.

[2blonde]

@willdob3  That's funny that you didn't want a moonroof at first.  I've always had them and loved them, but I had to give that up when I decided to buy a Mustang.  You get either a hardtop coupe, or a convertible.......that's it.  I don't want or need a convertible, so that's the sacrifice I made.  I still miss my "moonroof."  (I prefer to call it a "sunroof")

[Allegheny]

Its sad, isn't it.  Unless you buy a less expensive model, which you may not want, you are kind of stuck with what the manufacturer deems you should have.  On my last new car I didn't want the navigation system.  They did a nationwide search and found one without the navi system in the color I wanted.

What irks me is the interior color combinations they push on us.  (Or should I say lack of selection.)  I know it is cheaper for them in the manufacturing process, which is why they do it.  And now instead of gear shifts, they have paddles, push buttons or a dial.

[GCR18]

When I'm in the market for a car, I go to Barnes and noble and buy a car buyers guide or two.  There are a couple different kinds that spell out everything about the car.  I study it to death until I narrow it down, then I go and test drive.