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Getting a New Car
MegaMan001
CRNARochester, MNRegistered User regular
CRNARochester, MNRegistered User regular
In the theme of my last H/A thread about moving to Rochester, MN - it has come to my attention that I am also going to need to purchase my first car ever.
Some background information to help you guys help me is that I will be working and living in Rochester, MN and be doing very little highway driving except for some trips back to my parents in Northern Illinois (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Birthdays...) I will be making $28.36 an hour or $49,000 dollars a year not including shift differential or overtime (so that number will only go up). I have the option of joining the Mayo Clinic credit union as well for loans if that is of any consequence.
My gut reaction with my relative small amount of car knowledge is to get something like a 2005 or 2006 Toyota Corolla for the great safety, gas mileage, and general reliability. I do not, under any circumstances, wish to own a SUV.
Any suggestions for what cars I should be looking at for my first? Anything to especially avoid? Any tips in general? I've put my Dad on the 'car lookout' - so he may use his many contacts and general ability that all Dads seem to possess to help me out, but I'd like to get your guys' suggestions as well.
Some background information to help you guys help me is that I will be working and living in Rochester, MN and be doing very little highway driving except for some trips back to my parents in Northern Illinois (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Birthdays...) I will be making $28.36 an hour or $49,000 dollars a year not including shift differential or overtime (so that number will only go up). I have the option of joining the Mayo Clinic credit union as well for loans if that is of any consequence.
My gut reaction with my relative small amount of car knowledge is to get something like a 2005 or 2006 Toyota Corolla for the great safety, gas mileage, and general reliability. I do not, under any circumstances, wish to own a SUV.
Any suggestions for what cars I should be looking at for my first? Anything to especially avoid? Any tips in general? I've put my Dad on the 'car lookout' - so he may use his many contacts and general ability that all Dads seem to possess to help me out, but I'd like to get your guys' suggestions as well.
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All-wheel drive can be helpful in a northern winter. But some people don't like it because it affects handling. Take a bunch of test drives of cars with different sizes and drivetrains, and get a feel for your own preferences about things like that.
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The usual applies here, with Toyota, Honda, Mazda, and Nissan being the most reliable, but also more expensive (Toyotas you pay more for). The Mazda3 is a nice small car, and is usually cheaper than a corolla and nearly as dependable. Fun to drive too.
This isn't a joke, but the Ford Fusion is actually a decent car. It has the same platform as the Mazda6 but is cheaper by about 5 grand. Ford actually has pretty decent cars right now in regards to quality. They aren't Japanese quality, but it shouldn't give you trouble for a few years. I would say on par with a European build, really.
I would stay away from Pontiac/GM vehicles, especially if you don't want an SUV or truck, the areas they do well in.
I feel like a broken record, but VW's made in Mexico are not reliable. That means if you want a Jetta and are in North America chances are it came from Puebla. So ignore them and either look for
As far as buying the car, do you have any money put away? If you can put down 5-6 thousand, you can get your monthly payment pretty low.
I just went car shopping recently and drove pretty much everything out there. When all was said and done I got a '07 Ford Fusion V6 SEL FWD, nearly fully loaded, for about $17,000 driveout (asking price was $21k ish). I just took out a loan from my bank, with a better rate than I would financing it through the dealer, told the salesman I wanted THIS car at THIS price and that was it. I would recommend getting a loan from the bank over financing any day. I'm only making around 30k right out of college and this payment is not a problem for me, so you should be in a better position to pay off the car quickly at your stated salary.
This is the right time to buy: new models are coming in, inventory is full, and a lot of dealers want to get some money on this year's books. Ho ho ho indeed!
They are almost just as good and soooo much cheaper.
Do NOT buy anything with "Sick rims", "phat lowering" or "Aftermarket turbo" or similar.
The owners of these cars thrash the fuck through them, and then theres the whole "Fucking around with something designed to nigh perfection by professionals".
They are safe and built like tanks. The all wheel drive is pretty great in snow.
I would like to point out that anything older than 6 years can be a poor choice if you are looking to get financing for it.
If the OP is paying straight cash and driving away, owning the car, then I would absolutely look for something used around this range. But, if the OP is going to get financing for a used car the interest rates for anything 6 years or older can be pretty brutal. I'm paying close to 10% in interest right now on a 2000 Accord.
Ryan M Long Photography
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Who did you get financing through? In 2005 I got financing for a 1996 Acura Integra and my interest rate was not even 6%. Credit Unions usually are much better on the interest but man 10% on a car like that is almost absurd.
Shogun Streams Vidya
Capital One.
Checked through the local banks as well as the credit union where I had my account. No dice. That as honestly the best financing I could find.
It's not a big deal if I sell it again; which I'm planning on doing.
Ryan M Long Photography
Buy my Prints!
Since you are going to be in a wintry hellhole, you're going to want a Subaru. They're Hondas for the snow.
This is true. My first car was a Honda Prelude that came from Rochester and the bottom and undercarriage as well as the wheel wells had a lot of rust. Keep that stuff clean in the winter when they treat the roads.
Shogun Streams Vidya
Also, I'll throw a recommendation in for the Ford Focus. I know it was on one of the top 10 lists (most affordable cars, when taking into account the cost of the car, and maintenance costs), and we love the thing. If you need space, though, get an '07 hatchback while you still can. They got rid of the hatchback model from the '08 lineup.
My fiancee's parents are big Volvo lovers... they're damn reliable, but they are also expensive (cost and maintenance). Still, they're great snow cars, like Subaru.
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197970666737/
minor correction, but yeah.
I know you're here in IL, so you're aware of what driving on snow is like, but MN is worse. Just because. Seriously the roads are bad, lots of ice. All-wheel drive can come in handy.
My mom drives a Jeep Liberty, which is technically an "SUV" (as is a 'regular' jeep) because of the body style, but it's no larger or thirstier then most cars - no one would think you were a Hummer riding soccer mom. Hers is a diesel with a small turbo and it runs great in Wyoming's nasty weather. The late model hard-top jeeps are pretty cool, too. Don't go by jeep's pictures of them - they like to put them on mountaintops and do this sort of reverse-fat-girl shot with them that makes them look huge. Find one somewhere and look at it.
A friend of mine has a Subaru Legacy GT Sedan (not the wagon version) which is a very sporty car - it's not quite on par with WRX sti but it doesn't cost as much, either - and it has all wheel drive, a really red lights on black/gray interior. It's got a big back seat and trunk, as well - it's a very good compromise on driving fun and value, although if you kick the turbo on all the time it does change your mileage. It's a little short on headroom for me, or I'd own one in a heartbeat (but I am very tall). Subaru's have GREAT trade in value, too - he got a ton more then I thought he would when he traded in his Outback on the Legacy.
I host a podcast about movies.
Smart: Used Subaru with AWD
Boring: Used Civic/Corolla (FWD does okay in the snow)
Lame: Trucks/SUV/Etc
I host a podcast about movies.
A wagon would be a much better choice.
85% of people with SUVs or Trucks do not need them.
Where do you get this from? They're Japanese, and I've seen repair costs comparable to Honda's.
Also, I am not moving much of anything. The apartment I will be staying in for the next one to three years is furnished and I'll just pick up new furniture in Rochester, so I won't really be needing any cargo room.
The basic answer is yes; there's other factors, but that's the major one - all their models (even the sedan (imprezza) model) are 4wd
It's pretty much the AWD. In Alaska they are insanely popular.
Hey, Alaska, High Five!
No of anyone who wants to buy a Honda? I have no reason to be driving on this island.
And yes, the all wheel drive is nice. We don't get all that much in the way of snow here but you have to take into account the tight curves and the down/uphill driving. Not to mention that we get a good deal of ice and the combination of all of these things can sometimes be a bit much for a nonAWD/4X4.
Ryan M Long Photography
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1) 85% of people don't live in Minnesota. The OP does need above average traction and weather capabilities.
2) "Truck" and "SUV" are, hype from any car aesthetic camps aside, body types only - performance is determined by an individual make of vehicle's engine and construction, and many models of both are high mpg. People just have ford excursions and H3s in their heads when they hear "SUV" when the class actually goes right down to bump up against/crossover with wagons and hatchbacks. 4wd is the real border feature between them, and the OP may well want to consider a 4wd, so it may be worthwhile to clear the semantic air about it a bit is all I meant.
I host a podcast about movies.
You do realize that most places in the U.S. don't have winters like the Midwest and Northeast, though, right?
Yes, I do realize that. I was just wondering why people were making it out to be like you have to have a 4WD automobile to live in Rochester. I've lived in Northern Illinois my entire life and we've had some shit ass winters, that's for sure - but I've never considered 4WD to be some kind of necessity. I am not sure if that speaks to my general driving habits or what.
It may not be necessary, but it is definitely helpful. Having lived in Wisconsin my whole life, I can attest to the fact that driving around a car in a foot of snow sucks. And I won't even get started on how bad IL people drive...
Plus, MN and ND get more snow and worse weather than we do in WI and IL.
Whenever/If I get out of debt, I'll be buying myself a Japanese car.
I agree with the sentiment.
I just don't know if a Neon or a Contour can really speak for the entire vehicle family or the entire nation behind them.
Ryan M Long Photography
Buy my Prints!