Vehicle suggestions

[Beach Runner]

I am looking for a new vehicle for our daughter. I am tired of paying for the gas on a Toyota 4Runner. The requirements are:
1. Top safety ratings.
2. Price (preferably under $30,000).
3. A significant improvement in mpg as compared to a 4Runner.
4. Can't be too small -- she's slightly over 6'2" tall and is all legs.
5. Not too nerdy for a college kid to drive.

I have searched the Internet until I am blue in the face to find all of this info consolidated. Obviously points 4 and 5 wouldn't be included. Do any of you know of any websites that would help me? Thanks.

 

[pgurney]

I just traded in a big SUV, 13/17 EPA estimated city/hwy mileage, for a new Honda Accord. I just started a new project where I can't work from home any longer and got so tired of filling up so often. I'm loving it. It has air bags all around with great safety ratings and seems plenty spacious even for a 6'2" driver, although I'm only about 5'7".

You can also get top of the line for less than $30k, but if you go now before the 2009's arrive in August, you can probably do significantly better than that. They have good sized trunks and the back seats fold down if you need to carry something a little larger than fits the trunk.

PS: I start off as a big ole nerd, so YMMV on that point. LOL.

PM me if you want a referral for my salesman in Atlanta.

 

[tistheseason]

I just traded in a big SUV, 13/17 EPA estimated city/hwy mileage, for a new Honda Accord. I just started a new project where I can't work from home any longer and got so tired of filling up so often. I'm loving it. It has air bags all around with great safety ratings and seems plenty spacious even for a 6'2" driver, although I'm only about 5'7".

You can also get top of the line for less than $30k, but if you go now before the 2009's arrive in August, you can probably do significantly better than that. They have good sized trunks and the back seats fold down if you need to carry something a little larger than fits the trunk.

PS: I start off as a big ole nerd, so YMMV on that point. LOL.

PM me if you want a referral for my salesman in Atlanta.

We just bought a new Accord last week as well (also in ATL)! We traded in a VW Passat that I LOVED but it had just made the consumer reports used cars to avoid. The Accord really is a nice, albeit maybe boring, car.

BR - we used Consumer Reports on line for all of our research. An annual on-line subscription is pretty cheap! And is great when you are making a large purchase!

 

[Beach Runner]

Good idea. We need to renew our subscription to Consumer Reports.

I recommended the Accord, but daughter dissed it. She said it looks like a family car. It looks really nice to me. Yet she likes the Passat, Jetta, and the smaller VW SUV (not the Tourag but the other one).

And she likes the Toyota Highlander Hybrids. But they are in the 40's -- way too expensive. No way.

The Prius is in the right price range, and I found a dealer in South Atlanta who is getting some in in a few weeks. But the safety ratings aren't great. Like hubby says, the mass of a vehicle makes a big difference in safety.

 

[elgordoboy]

http://www.edmunds.com/

 

[ckhagen]

My little Scion xA (now discontinued and replaced with the xD) has a 5-star safety rating with side and side curtain air bags and hubby is saying it's getting about 32 mpg lately. Now... it doesn't really qualify for the last two points (maybe the xD would though...). My 6'2" BIL drove it on a long trip and said it was ok, but not really long enough for his long legs. My husband used to complain it wasn't "cool enough" for him, but now that the gas mileage has become paramount, he loves it! Funny how things can change.

 

[tistheseason]

Good idea. We need to renew our subscription to Consumer Reports.

I recommended the Accord, but daughter dissed it. She said it looks like a family car. It looks really nice to me. Yet she likes the Passat, Jetta, and the smaller VW SUV (not the Tourag but the other one).

And she likes the Toyota Highlander Hybrids. But they are in the 40's -- way too expensive. No way.

The Prius is in the right price range, and I found a dealer in South Atlanta who is getting some in in a few weeks. But the safety ratings aren't great. Like hubby says, the mass of a vehicle makes a big difference in safety.

She actually has a point (about it being a family car). I really liked the Passat -- it's much smaller than the accord and drives tighter. But they seem to have a lot of problems after 50K miles. And they certainly don't hold their value -- I couldn't believe how little it was worth -- and it was only 5 yrs old. But that's what happens when you land on the "cars to avoid list".

What about the Volvo S40?

 

[30A Skunkape]

Honda Civic. You can't go wrong.
If it needs to be sexier, Mini Cooper.

 

[Mango]

How bout the "if she ain't payin, she ain't sayin" car?

 

[kathydwells]

I have used 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan with 158,000+ miles on it. It has some steering problems that I plan to have fixed. I will make you a good deal on it.

Good Luck in your search!