8-14k used car what to buy? Mazda 3 skyactive?

[Fat Charlie]

It depends on what you want. 4 door hatch with a manual? The Fit, Sonic or Versa, even a Mirage or Spark. Stretching your price range a bit should get you one with zero miles on it.

What kept me from looking at Mazdas and the like (and would have made me leery of the Mirage if I had been looking at that size car) because I had an 05 Subaru myself- buying parts for cars from low volume manufacturers absolutely sucks.

[Xist]

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

What kept me from looking at Mazdas and the like (and would have made me leery of the Mirage if I had been looking at that size car) because I had an 05 Subaru myself- buying parts for cars from low volume manufacturers absolutely sucks.

I was very excited to purchase three $300 hoses for my Forester. Very excited indeed.

[Cobb]

The yaris was briefly popular in my area. I saw quite a few sedans and a few hatch backs. One of the local toy dealers used it as a loaner car when yours was being serviced. They have vanished from the roads just like the square scion xbs and the echo.

Ive seen more gen 1 prius vs the echo.

[vskid3]

30k miles a year? Why not a Prius? $14k should get you a fairly young one and cut your fuel costs in half.

[Cobb]

Thats why I mentioned the gen 2 insight, but guess hes a hybrid hater.

Originally Posted by vskid3

30k miles a year? Why not a Prius? $14k should get you a fairly young one and cut your fuel costs in half.

[redpoint5]

What do you need a car do do, Birdman?

You might get a tiny car and not be happy with the interior volume, or the lack of AWD. God must have blessed my '96 Legacy 2.2L manual. It went without a single issue for 250,000 miles, and averaged 28 mpg in mixed driving.

30k miles a year is a lot of time to spend in a car. I'd get something comfortable that is fairly old because you don't want the extreme amount of miles you are putting in to depreciate an expensive ride.

I'd look at an '07-'09 gen2 Prius.

[Honda100]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I'd look at an '07-'09 gen2 Prius.

09 is a gen 3 Prius.

However that having been said, I can't think of a car I hated more than my Prius except maybe my Land Rover Freelander. The Prius was solid until 118k and then the "alternator" went out (I think it's called the stator wheel or something), and that caused all kinds of issues requiring the power computer needing to be replaced and all told, $8,200 to fix it via Toyota dealer. I parted out the car and cut my losses. I will never ever touch another Prius (or hybrid) again in the name of saving money because it will eat you alive once things go wrong and leave you high and dry.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Honda100

09 is a gen 3 Prius.

However that having been said, I can't think of a car I hated more than my Prius except maybe my Land Rover Freelander. The Prius was solid until 118k and then the "alternator" went out (I think it's called the stator wheel or something), and that caused all kinds of issues requiring the power computer needing to be replaced and all told, $8,200 to fix it via Toyota dealer. I parted out the car and cut my losses. I will never ever touch another Prius (or hybrid) again in the name of saving money because it will eat you alive once things go wrong and leave you high and dry.

'09 is a gen 2 in the U.S., although they started selling the '10 model partway through 2009.

What year was your Prius? I appreciate the anecdotal evidence you have offered up, and understand why you would avoid the car.

The '07 was a mid-generation refresh that resolved some of the issues the previous years had, and included more standard features.

[user removed]

If you have to drive 30k a year buy an older car with farily low miles and as few options as possible. A base Toyota Echo with a manual and roll up windows (2dr preferrably) would be my choice.

Pay down debt with the rest unless it is borrowed to begin with.

regards
Mech

[UltArc]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

If you have to drive 30k a year buy an older car with farily low miles and as few options as possible. A base Toyota Echo with a manual and roll up windows (2dr preferrably) would be my choice.

Pay down debt with the rest unless it is borrowed to begin with.

regards
Mech

This, but a gen 1 Insight (based off of the information we have at this point).