Looking for car; Drives 5k miles a year, Would Like a Warrenty, CHEAP.

Looking for my car recommendation for my lifestyle. I'm done dealing with flakes on craigslists, done fixing up other peoples bad work, and done with babying my car. I'm trying to buy a car for myself and I just realized i don't have the time and effort to hunt a car down, fix anything up, or worry about cars in general now that I'm working two jobs.

So what I need -

I've put 5k miles a year on my last car. I hardly drive as I work from home my main job, ride my bike to the gym and groceries, I do drive for pleasure and drive to my second job but it's only 15 minutes away.

I don't have kids or anything. Got a girlfriend so I'll need a second seat in the car, really dont need a backseat because i dont have a dog and I don't like giving friends rides.

Cars going to sit outside, get lots of sun and get rained on until I buy a house and I'd rather just turn my garage into a gym than park a car there.

What's the best option here, buy something with 80k miles and still a warrenty? It will take me awhile to get up to that 100k miles.

I'd take gas mileage over performance.

What's Cheap in this case?

8-$15k or so. I don't really feel like I'd need a more expensive car, as luxury will be lost on me since I'm never in the damn car.

Best deal

Yea, part of me wants to buy something nice like a used fiat. Other part of me wants to buy a 60k mile honda and call it a day.

I'm gonna hit up Carmax this weekend.

I think this is a personal judgement call. Too many variables. I think you should buy as new & low miles as possible if you want to avoid downtime. A 15k Fiat, brand new, might be worth a shot. No idea on reliability there, though.

V6 Accord, as new as your budget will tolerate.

Coldsnap wrote: Got a girlfriend so I'll need a second seat in the car, really dont need a backseat because i dont have a dog and I don't like giving friends rides.

If you have a girlfriend, you need a back seat.

Kia Rio is $12,990 new, with 10 year, 100k mile drivetrain warranty. 5 year, 60k on everything else. Doesn't get much cheaper than that.

Keep in mind anything with a warranty will have two components: time and mileage. You're not worried about the mileage part, but if you buy a 2010 CPO car with a 7-year, 100k powertrain warranty, that means that you've only got two years left on the coverage even if there's plenty of mileage left. As such, it makes sense for you to buy the newest, cheapest thing with the longest (in years) warranty you possibly can.

In reply to racerfink:

Soul might be a good option too, more utility, starts around $15.

I don't think I want to buy something brand new. Probably best to buy something with 60k miles on it or so, drive it for 3 years and trade it in before it hits 100k for something else. As variety is the spice of life.

MPG I'd like about 30 around town..

SlickDizzy wrote: Keep in mind anything with a warranty will have two components: time and mileage. You're not worried about the mileage part, but if you buy a 2010 CPO car with a 7-year, 100k powertrain warranty, that means that you've only got two years left on the coverage even if there's plenty of mileage left. As such, it makes sense for you to buy the newest, cheapest thing with the longest (in years) warranty you possibly can.

Yea, good point. Years will be the big thing.

I'd go for something flashier that starts to break down after 100k.. Maybe that VW/Audi you've always wanted? :)

I think I need to go out and actually test drive a Miata, as this might fit my long wolf 2 door no room lifestyle.

Can you go wrong with any 2007+ Miata with 40-60k miles?

logdog wrote:

Coldsnap wrote: Got a girlfriend so I'll need a second seat in the car, really dont need a backseat because i dont have a dog and I don't like giving friends rides.

If you have a girlfriend, you need a back seat.

Front seat works just fine. Especially if the back seat is in a DSM.

Coldsnap wrote: I think I need to go out and actually test drive a Miata, as this might fit my long wolf 2 door no room lifestyle. Can you go wrong with any 2007+ Miata with 40-60k miles?

Not really. Bonus points if its a hardtop convert.

How important is putting premium fuel in the Mazda NC? I don't really expect most owners to do this.

So right now I'm between a Miata NC for about $10-12k or a Honda Civic/Accord Coup for about $6-10k. Both have its merits. Miata strong contender as I love RWD cars, I got a test drive scheduled for one later today.

Dunno, something about smart car. I'd take a fiat over it. But damn are they cheap. I'd feel too vulnerable on the freeway..

This seems cool. Hardtop. 8k miles 2012 $12k

In reply to Coldsnap:

If you put regular gas in the Miata it's going to be down on power and get really bad gas mileage because the ECU will knock the timing waaaay back to compensate. It's actually cheaper to put premium in, since the extra $2 per tank will give you about 40 extra miles because of the increased efficiency!

I learned this the hard way on our BABE Rally Volvo 960; it got 180 miles to a tank and drove like ass on 87 octane. On 93? Suddenly it would stretch that tank to 250 and drive like a real car. Extreme example (primitive engine management), but true. Most people don't understand that and poo-poo anything that takes premium...and on that note, why would you not believe that most people use the recommended gas?

You may want to look at leasing.

Gah. Honda Civic Coupe or Miata MX-5. Heart says Miata, brain says Civic. I think a good test drive in both and sleeping on it will help me decide.

You sound like one of the few people that a lease would make sense for. always newish. Always low mileage. Always under warranty. Bad side of this? Always a payment.

Yea and it's an expensive payment, 200-300. Im the type of person who doesnt like to be locked into anything too, so 3 years seems scary commitment.

Just gave my current DD a waxing (took 3 hours). To send it off wherever it's going next.

Coldsnap wrote: This seems cool. Hardtop. 8k miles 2012 $12k

Ummm, is this a typo? Seems too good to be true! Why would you even consider a Civic if you could get this for that price??!!