Need a car, any opinions

[elf]

OK, here's the scoop. last Friday driving to work got caught up in a multi car accident totalling my 03 Focus with 175,000 miles. Been a good car but don't mind seeing it go. Need to make a decision and replace by tomorrow. Here's the parameters: mid sized 4 door (don't need another truck, already got one) 2010-2012 model year, under $15K. Here's what we've drove and opinions formed so far.
2011 Honda Accord LX - liked the car, most rear seat room of all, most expensive of the group, ho hum looks

2011 Kia Optima - liked it, best looking car by a long shot, 2nd for rear leg room

2011 Ford Fusion - loved driving it, worst rear seat room of all (ruled it out just for the rear seat room), 2nd best looking

2012 Nissan Altima - good looking, good rear leg room, car was OK, best value

Any opinions on any of these or any other options?

 

[goofy600]

Look into warranties doesn't Kia have like 100,000 miles also which has least amount of breakdowns!

 

[rmk4ever]

Got a buddy with a 100,000 warranty on a kia, his car sat 3 months last summer waiting on parts.

 

[98panther]

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detai...pp=50&feedSegId=28705&aff=national&listType=1

 

[MZEMS2]

Ive had a couple loaner Nissan Altimas, but just driving a couple days at a time. I liked 'em. I'm a truck guy though

 

[polarisrider1]

Subaru Forester. Lol. With a global warming is real sticker and an Al Gore "I invented the internet sticker". You will fit in with the neighbors. No need to advertise your I burn fossil fuels type habit.

 

[maddog24]

Toyota Camry or Honda Accord

 

[MR.HAPPY]

Buy American!

 

[ezra]

I have a bud who has a delivery corp.
he has been buying kia for about 10 yrs.
they run the wheels off them so resale is not a concern
I know they have 2 sportages with over 250k and a few minivans well past 150k non have had any major issues.
I know on occasion they pull a 5x8 inclosed with the sportages

 

[saber1]

i am in sales and have owned 4 Nissan Altimas starting with a 95 and have taken them all over 200 thousand miles then sold them for cheap they didnt die on me they just started to rust and look bad current one is a Maxima with 160 thousand on it so far .just my 2cents

 

[Hoosier]

I have a 2009 Tennessee built Altima with the 4 banger and the CVT. About 70k so far. Bought it new with the US Taxpayer via cash for clunkers providing the down payment for me. Zero issues so far. Only put tires and wipers on it. The only thing I don't like about it is I would still prefer a traditional auto or manual transmission. Supposedly, the CVT's they use are reliable, but the fluid needs to be changed every 120k for $400 (the type of fluid is only made by the manufacturer of the tranny so amsoil or sea and snow doesn't make a replacement) and if the trans goes bad, it's about $4,000 to replace (they don't typically rebuild them for some reason). The trans does have a 120k warranty on it.

Gas mileage is great for a car that size. Power is good for a 4 banger. Ride and handling is great for the price point. Very comfortable. If I was buying again, I'd try to find one with a manual trans.

I don't think you can go wrong with the Ohio-built Accord or the Mexico-built Fusion (I liked and looked at them both, but neither qualified for cash for clunkers for me since they averaged 25 mpg's and with my sacrificial beater that I turned in I had to buy one that got 26 average mpgs per the EPA), but I have never been in a Kia so I don't know anything about those. Honda probably has the best track record recently.

 

[zltim]

Chevy Impala, get 30MPG highway.

 

[anonomoose]

Why are you limited to smallish cars?

I assume that you are looking used because there isn't much in the sub-15k range.

If that is the case, check out the buick or chevy units of one size larger than what you named.

Remember that the KIA has some major service work on them that MUST be performed or you lose the warranty at various stages along the mileage chart.

Most full sized buick models get about 30 mpg and are very comfortable to drive and ride in for longer distances. Longer wheel base is important in that regard.

If you are not getting new consider a warranty to cover your hind end if you happen to pick wrongly.

Many of the newer cars get slightly better mileage than the older units...and of course don't pick one with major changes or expect to pay the price for being the test driver on the "issues"

 

[jr37]

I also am in the market for a different car. Lost the tranny in my van on Monday. I would like to get a Pontiac again, because of the good luck I had with my last one. (Before the van) I don't know if it is because they don't make them anymore or what, but they sure are holding their value. I can't buy a Bonneville now for anywhere near what I paid for my last one 7 years ago. If I don't find a Bonneville or Grand Prix that I like I don't know what else I would want. It would be a tough decision.

 

[elf]

I ended up with the Kia Optima. I actually ended up buying new as a 2 yr old one was only 5K less than new. I did look at the bigger cars also, Taurus, lacrosse, Lucerne but to get to the same price I would have been buying a 3-4 yr old car with 40-50k miles. I'm happy, it's a sharp ride.

 

[killerbee]

Buy American.... keep the money in the states..not japan or korea!!!!!! wake up america!!!!!

 

[anonomoose]

I also am in the market for a different car. Lost the tranny in my van on Monday. I would like to get a Pontiac again, because of the good luck I had with my last one. (Before the van) I don't know if it is because they don't make them anymore or what, but they sure are holding their value. I can't buy a Bonneville now for anywhere near what I paid for my last one 7 years ago. If I don't find a Bonneville or Grand Prix that I like I don't know what else I would want. It would be a tough decision.

A buick is about the same thing...and they still make the parts...nice ride.

 

[ezra]

I would rather buy a japan than a Italian dodge or fed reserve chev any day

want to see who makes parts for who.who ownes who.
http://www.toomanycars.info/CarRelationship/Car_Rel-Image2.html

click on any part of the map for a break down
and if you study it for a bit your support American car not japan is a wash. as you can see dalmer who is dodge is 58%fiat the next biggest holder is the UAW both by gun point but i regress.
the fiat group has large holdings in the Beijing motor corp who has huge holdings in kia.
so when u buy a kia some of that money goes back to the uaw

 

[sledboy482]

When we were in the market 4.5 years ago, my wife drove everything-USA, Japan, German, etc. It came down between the Honda Accord and the Chevrolet Impala. She decided on the Impala LTZ. It has the 3900 V6 in it, which also drops off to a 3 cylinder motor when cruising at 55 on flat land. Love the car, as it has the 18" factory wheels, fancier interior, etc. She now has a whopping 29,000 miles on it. We plan to keep it for at least 5 more years. The Hyundai and Kia are nice cars, but again-hate to see US dollars going overseas. And yes, I know our Impala was made in Canada-or is it Mexico? I am upset that GM took the Obamacash, and it may affect what our next vehicle is. For mid-size did you consider the Ford Fusions? The new ones are very stylish-as is the Taurus.

 

[elf]

We did consider the fusion. Really liked it but the rear seat has the least legroom of the bunch we considered. Still, we made an offer on a 2011 fusion but got turned down. Somebody mentioned Impala, didn't even look at them as I had rented one once and it has zero leg room in back. We wanted a car that we could fit everybody in when we go places that don't require the truck. Currently no matter where we went with the family we had to take the truck as the focus was to small. So rear seat room was important. And while its a Korean company it was built in Georgia. Actually saw a show a few weeks ago on their factory and it is an amazing place. 3000+ employees building 1300+ cars/day.