Family cars with some spunk.

[gwoods]

OP what is the price range? Porsche 918 meets your requirements but do you have 600 large laying around?

Whats the point of gas mileage when your paying 40k for a VOLT? For 40k I'd much rather have a used E63 Mercedes then a Volt no matter what gas costs.

I like the Versa but the performance sucks. I have often wondered how cool it would be to have a turbo charged Versa? Maybe you could consider something like that? Buy a CHEAP car that gets good mileage and modify it for performance.

[Razi]

The Taurus is ridiculous.
It weighs over 4000 pounds, almost as much as a new Pathfinder.

[IBCoupe]

How much does the Volt cost after rebates and tax credits, though?

[alms24sebring]

See what Fiat has to offer when they start opning up.

[Kompresshun]

See what Fiat has to offer when they start opning up.

Junk, unless you want to squeeze into a 500

[gwoods]

depends on your state credit which varies from state to state, the federal credit is $7500

You are going to spend more then 30k on a VOLT that is not fast. How many miles do you have to drive a slow in my opinion ugly car before you have saved any money?

OP buy a lease return 2010/11 G37 Sedan and try to keep your foot out of it. It is rated at 19/27 mpg You may not get 30mpg but it is fast and will haul your family.

[zacmil]

I like the Versa but the performance sucks. I have often wondered how cool it would be to have a turbo charged Versa? Maybe you could consider something like that?

Oh, that reminds me, I'm actually hopeful about the Chevy Sonic coming out this fall. It looks like an Aveo only with less fail. They'll be offering an option with the 1.4L turbo engine from the Cruze, and I'm hoping that in a car that small it may be kinda fun.




I kinda like the sedan, it reminds me of a scrunched up Evo X.

[Looneybomber]

How many miles do you have to drive a slow in my opinion ugly car before you have saved any money?

Well, according to google maps, just to and from school and work:
12hrs 12min and 459.2miles per week. (37.6MPH avg)

My explorer gets about 17mpg, so that would be $444.43/mo (reg 3.80/gal)
Mini Cooper Clubman S gets about 30mpg, that would be $263.25/mo (prem 4.00/gal)
Chevy volt gets about 37mpg, so that would be $214.94/mo (prem 4.00/gal)

Looking at how much I will be spending on gas, I think I'll also look at the sentra se-r and altima 2.5s. I may have to worry a little less about performance and just get something that will get good mpg. I'm also not going to get anything too expensive because of all the miles I will put on it.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Oh, that reminds me, I'm actually hopeful about the Chevy Sonic coming out this fall. It looks like an Aveo only with less fail.

It actually is an Aveo, GM's just changing the name in the US. Still the same Daewoo model being rebadged.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Just get a Prelude. F the haters in the back seat.

[zacmil]

Oh, that reminds me, I'm actually hopeful about the Chevy Sonic coming out this fall. It looks like an Aveo only with less fail.

It actually is an Aveo, GM's just changing the name in the US. Still the same Daewoo model being rebadged.

Yeah, I figured that much. I'm just super excited about the turbo option. I think that America is sorely lacking cars this size with a reasonable amount of oomph behind them. Really, all we have is the Mini S, which is way too pricey for me (poor college kid). As long as the price can reflect the fact that this thing is a rebadged Daewoo, this could be a fun cheap car.

[Looneybomber]

What else america lacks are diesel versions of the Mini cooper and the BMW 123d. Both get insanely good gas mileage. The mini diesel, 60mpg. Eat that sportbike riders!

[zacmil]

I've been saying that for years lol. I don't know why America hates diesel cars and goes nuts over expensive hybrids and EVs.

[Jesda]

Because of the feds.

[gwoods]

Jesda you killed this thread and I never found out OP's budget!

[Jesda]

[Looneybomber]

Jesda you killed this thread and I never found out OP's budget!

Well we have over 30k saved up, but after thinking just how many miles I will put on the car, I'm gonna go a different route and buy myself a cheap little commuter car. I'm getting a 7-8k bonus in a couple months that I'm going to use to buy something that's fuel efficient and can "throw away" when I'm done. Ideally something diesel, but at that price point, I doubt it.

What's good is that later, when my wife wants another car, I'm going to take the advice in this thread and check out some of the cars mentioned. Or, going another route, I have always liked the looks of the FX35. All in due time though.

[zacmil]

I'm getting a 7-8k bonus in a couple months that I'm going to use to buy something that's fuel efficient and can "throw away" when I'm done. Ideally something diesel, but at that price point, I doubt it.

Here ya go!

after thinking just how many miles I will put on the car, I'm gonna go a different route and buy myself a cheap little commuter car.

Unless you must have something that seats four, I vote for an older Miata. I was actually just looking on Autotrader the other day, and they can be had for pretty cheap. That way you'd have a cheap commuter that was actually fun to drive.

[Chaotic_Warlord]

I read your OP twice and have scanned through this thread, maybe I missed it but what kind of a budget are we working with here? There are quite a few family cars with balls but it all depends on what price range you are looking at. If you're transporting your family around on long road trips then obviously back seat leg room is going to become an issue at some point, kids don't stay small forever.

[gwoods]

used Jetta diesel?
Newish Versa (love this car)
Mazda 3 (speed if you can $)

This is your list

[Looneybomber]

Here ya go!

After making my post I thought "I should go back and say except old MB's"

I read your OP twice and have scanned through this thread, maybe I missed it but what kind of a budget are we working with here?

I never really had an established budget. If you get into expensive 4 seater cars, they don't get >26mpg. In a couple posts up I say

I'm getting a 7-8k bonus in a couple months that I'm going to use to buy something that's fuel efficient and can "throw away" when I'm done. Ideally something diesel, but at that price point, I doubt it.

and by diesel, I mean not Benz.

used Jetta diesel?

If I can find one, that's on my list. Looks like the Golf TDI didn't sell in north america in 07-09, so I'll look for an '06 or older. Both jetta and golf.

Newish Versa (love this car)

My sister has either a '10 or '11. She likes it. It's surprisingly roomy.

Mazda 3 (speed if you can $)

I sure would like to have a speed3, but I think I will sacrifice performance for MPG.

[gwoods]

The Mazda 3 is fun to drive SPEED or not. It has a lot of the same gocart-ness the Miata has but you don't have to date boys to drive one

[MinisterofDOOM]

The Mazda 3 is fun to drive SPEED or not.

Yup. Even the utterly gutless 2.0 base model is a blast.

[Dittoz7]

Just DD the R1.

[Looneybomber]

The Mazda 3 is fun to drive SPEED or not. It has a lot of the same gocart-ness the Miata has but you don't have to date boys to drive one

[Jesda]

Your mom dates boys

And eats dates

[Kenrik]

I vote IS250.

Can be had with low miles in the low 20s. Drives like a dream.

I just got back from a 200mile trip in it where I was getting 30mpg... I get 24 City so it averages out to around 26.5mpg mixed

[Kenrik]

On second thought, if you're interested in a G35 Coupe I can make you a REALLY good deal.. Not really a "Family car" but it would be great to commute.

[gwoods]

Your mom dates boys

And eats dates

Dorthy Mantooth is a Saint!!

[Looneybomber]

*edit* Ok these cars listed below have no spunk...

Well after researching, looking at a few, and putting car seats in them to see if the family actually fits, we've narrowed it down to the focus, (my fav)


civic, (nice, but the styling is bleh)


versa, (ya she want the sedan!? Ugly)


and juke (she said no on the juke because of the relatively bad MPG, but i like the thing).


Now we're kind of waiting closer to the end of the year to pick up some cars on the lot that they'll sell cheap.

I'm also keeping an eye out for a Mercury Milan hybrid because I've seen a few sell cheap for what they are.

And if you're wondering why I ditched the "spunk" priority, it's because this is going to primarily be my wife's car that I will drive in order to get really good gas mileage. We've talked about it a bit, and she's game for me getting another motorcycle. You'll be hard pressed to find a car with the same exhilarating feel as a sport bike.