Nissan Altima or equivalent? - Page 2

For the record, as far as I know, the Ford focus and FOrd fusion are just the Madza3 and Mazda6, diffent wrapper on the same chassis.

Between the two, I like the ford interior better (mostly for the gadgets) but I like the mazda exterior styling much better. In terms of sedans anyways. The focus hatch is good if you are into the whole hot hatch style, but thats a market segment I never got into.

much praised has been showered on the fiesta (for its segment, of course) but i found it extremely unfinished in execution. the seats are an afterthought, hatch space is non existent, no true fold flat option for utility, interior design is bad in a 80s-envisioning-the-future sense. it feels very much like its price tag, or worse.

for the same price i think the honda fit is a much more polished and refine choice. perhaps the mazda 2 as well. but there are many written comparisons of the 3 out there.
same platform, as is shared with a few model of volvos as well. that said, they are quite substantially different cars - drive train, interior design, etc. the NEW focus is nice, but can get pricey if optioned wrong.

new jettas are very downmarket compared to its previous incarnation. the golf tdi and gti make a compelling case for value, if one shops used (new ones start at 24k).

i think hyundais and isuzu (kizashi) is worth a look, too

The eurospec focus RS is the tits, but the US isn't getting it apparently. Ford is bringing a car over thats going to LOOK like the euro version and be billed as the RS but its not going to have to same crazy powerful engine.

I guess people over here have been begging to get the real RS over here for a while (and no wonder, check the top gear segment on it. 300HP in that little body, and it can actually corner) but I guess ford think (wrongly?) that its too much of a niche market to make a profit over here.

I hear the hyundai genesis is supposed to be quite a performer for its price, but then you know the review mags always seem to lavish exxagerated praise on cars that offer even passing competition to their market segment at a lower price.

Did you try one of the tricked-out Fiestas? The Fit, to me, feels like a toy car in comparison. A friend of mine drives one and I don't know how she stands it.

The Fiesta's lack of fold-flat seats is pretty feeble, admittedly.

Many have recommended that you not buy a new car, and I echo that.


This is what Consumer Reports of April 2011 says are the best used cars between $18 and 20k:

Acura MDX '06; TL '06; TSX '07
Audi A4 (4-cyl.) '07
BMW X3 '06
Chevrolet Corvette '04
Chrysler Aspen '08
Ford Edge (FWD) '08; F-250 (2WD) '08; Fusion (V6, AWD) '10; Fusion Hybrid '10; Mustang (V8) '07
Honda Accord (4-cyl.) '09; Civic Hybrid '09; CR-V '08; Ridgeline '07; S2000 '07
Hyundai Santa Fe '09
Lexus GX '04; LS '04
Mercedes-Benz C-Class (V6, RWD) '07; E-Class sedan (turbodiesel) '05
Nissan Frontier (2WD) '10; Maxima '08; Rogue '09-10
Subaru Forester '09-10; Outback (4-cyl.) '09-10
Toyota 4Runner '06; Camry Hybrid '08-09; Highlander Hybrid '06; Prius '09; RAV4 '09; Sequoia '05; Sienna (FWD) '08; Tacoma (V6) '07-08
Volvo S60 (FWD) '08; S80 (6-cyl.) '07; XC70 '07

Of those I'd chose the ones that are most reliable and will cost you the least to own over the next 3-5 years. Make sure you check w/ your insurer. If you're a Northerner keep in mind winter driving and avoid RWD.

And learn how to drive stick for heaven's sake.