My next car
I've been leasing my 2007 Subaru Impreza since March 2007. It's been a great car, no real problems at all. However I am tired of shifting gears and no longer need all wheel drive. When the car goes back to the dealer in March 2011, I already know what car I'm going to try and get, what price, and options.
I'm going to try to get a used 2007 Toyota Corolla CE Auto. I'll try to explain my bland, boring decision. In these uncertain times during the economy I need to make a sensible choice. I'll try to explain why I decided to go with Toyota.
Safety
Although Toyota took a beating lately with their unintended acceleration problems, the cars are high quality and are very safe. Do a search on autotrader and try and see how many KIA's and Hyundai's were in accidents where the air bags did not deploy, when they clearly should have.
Reliability
I am staying away from the domestic automakers (GM, Ford, Chrysler) and avoiding the South Korean manufacturers (KIA, Hyundai). All of these vehicles are junk. Buying a used Hyundai or KIA is about as sensible as using 100$ bills to start your fireplace fires. Sure, you can do it, and it's possible, but you're throwing away good money. Just go look at many consumer web sites to see how "reliable" these so-called vehicles are. Don't believe J.D. Power and Associates. They're liars. They've sold out to the manufacturers and quite frankly, the notion of initial perceived quality is a ludicrous measurement. It means nothing for long term reliability.
Resale value
Compare the resale value of any low-cost GM or South Korean car to Toyota or Honda. You can't: The Honda or Toyota is about on average worth 40% more. Why? Because they last longer. Because they're better made. Because they don't fall apart after 30,000 km. Because they don't have any noises or springs poking through your back after 4 years. And lets be honest: Who aspires to buy a used Hyundai or KIA, except for the very cheap or senile senior citizen?
Maintenance Costs
Low costs of running a vehicle factor into my decisions. If a vehicle costs quite a bit of money gasoline, tires, or other parts, I will not consider it. Even now there are reports of problems with Hyundai's and KIA's 6-speed 2010 transmissions. Replacing them doesn't even seem to fix the problem. Don't believe those 10-year warranties. It's just marketing bullshit. The parts that are covered will be hard to prove and if you don't get your vehicle serviced at the dealership, that warranty is NULL AND VOID. Totally useless.
Insurance Costs
It's cheaper to insure a used car than a leased new car. And when you have a much cheaper import to cover, the cost of my car insurance will hopefully take a huge nose dive. This is the one factor that is driving me away from leasing new again. It's just too expensive to lease a vehicle anymore in Atlantic Canada. The insurance companies are corrupt and there is no control on anything out here. Operating an insurance company in Atlantic Canada is like getting a license to print money. It's that bad.
Buying used checklits
1. Obtain financing before visiting the seller
2. Get carfax report of the car
3. Have an independent mechanic inspect the car
4. Ensure there are no liens or loans against the vehicle
Now I just have to get some minor body damage fixed on my old scooby before she goes back next year. Ah, fun.
I'm going to try to get a used 2007 Toyota Corolla CE Auto. I'll try to explain my bland, boring decision. In these uncertain times during the economy I need to make a sensible choice. I'll try to explain why I decided to go with Toyota.
Safety
Although Toyota took a beating lately with their unintended acceleration problems, the cars are high quality and are very safe. Do a search on autotrader and try and see how many KIA's and Hyundai's were in accidents where the air bags did not deploy, when they clearly should have.
Reliability
I am staying away from the domestic automakers (GM, Ford, Chrysler) and avoiding the South Korean manufacturers (KIA, Hyundai). All of these vehicles are junk. Buying a used Hyundai or KIA is about as sensible as using 100$ bills to start your fireplace fires. Sure, you can do it, and it's possible, but you're throwing away good money. Just go look at many consumer web sites to see how "reliable" these so-called vehicles are. Don't believe J.D. Power and Associates. They're liars. They've sold out to the manufacturers and quite frankly, the notion of initial perceived quality is a ludicrous measurement. It means nothing for long term reliability.
Resale value
Compare the resale value of any low-cost GM or South Korean car to Toyota or Honda. You can't: The Honda or Toyota is about on average worth 40% more. Why? Because they last longer. Because they're better made. Because they don't fall apart after 30,000 km. Because they don't have any noises or springs poking through your back after 4 years. And lets be honest: Who aspires to buy a used Hyundai or KIA, except for the very cheap or senile senior citizen?
Maintenance Costs
Low costs of running a vehicle factor into my decisions. If a vehicle costs quite a bit of money gasoline, tires, or other parts, I will not consider it. Even now there are reports of problems with Hyundai's and KIA's 6-speed 2010 transmissions. Replacing them doesn't even seem to fix the problem. Don't believe those 10-year warranties. It's just marketing bullshit. The parts that are covered will be hard to prove and if you don't get your vehicle serviced at the dealership, that warranty is NULL AND VOID. Totally useless.
Insurance Costs
It's cheaper to insure a used car than a leased new car. And when you have a much cheaper import to cover, the cost of my car insurance will hopefully take a huge nose dive. This is the one factor that is driving me away from leasing new again. It's just too expensive to lease a vehicle anymore in Atlantic Canada. The insurance companies are corrupt and there is no control on anything out here. Operating an insurance company in Atlantic Canada is like getting a license to print money. It's that bad.
Buying used checklits
1. Obtain financing before visiting the seller
2. Get carfax report of the car
3. Have an independent mechanic inspect the car
4. Ensure there are no liens or loans against the vehicle
Now I just have to get some minor body damage fixed on my old scooby before she goes back next year. Ah, fun.
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