i've got a toyota Matrix, which is basically a taller, hatchback version of a Corolla (same engine). A little more expensive than Corolla but more useful if you are planning on carrying stuff around. elantra GT is pretty good pricewise and features-wise. leather is standard. It is a hatchback too but has a rounded off back. kinda looks like a Saab. they are a little harder to find than the regular elantra. they have the best warranties.
VERY IMPORTANT One of the things that people don't pay enough attention to is resale...the faster something depreciates, the less it will be worth when you dispose of it. Depreciation is not based on some random flip of the coin, but rather it is based on historical market values of a given product in the past. Market value, of course, is based on the buying public's perception of a product's worth. And that of course, will give you the best overall determinant of just how "good" something is. With cars, it's not just about achieving the highest relative value of the vehicle when you sell it that should interest you.....it also means that you'll have the best possible car for your money while you're acutally driving it. The most invaluable tool that www.edmunds.com offers to a car buyer is their TCO (Total cost of ownership) link. This will show you just how much your vehicle should depreciate over the years. So for instance, say you're in the market for a new $60K SUV--you damn sure better want that new Escalade because you're gonna lose 14 grand worth of value in it the first year alone. You'd be much smarter getting a Toyota Landcruiser because that vehicle will only lose about eight grand. Of course, our "new" economy has really skewed these numbers because the used car market has gone to hell recently, but the percentages should remain the same. Nothing can tell you the "right" price for a mass produced product better than genuine market forces. Therefore, this tool should really help guide you in your decision. If you want the best vehicle for your dollar, simply go to www.edmunds.com and find the cars in your price range. Use the TCO link to find the one car that will lose the least percentage of it's value through depreciation, and that should be the car you want.
no GM does not make the Prizm anymore. Saturn Ion is GM. The new ION coupe is better than the ION sedan. They have 24 hour test drives and 30 day money back guarantees and no haggle prices make the process easier. no sleezy salesmen and their tricks. I love this blue color.
My mom has bought 2 Saturns. One was a new '97 and the other we got this past year, a new 2002. We've never had any major problems with the cars (although the '97 is getting up there in milage, so things are starting to happen, but still nothing too serious). She also loves the salesmen. It's the easiest process in the world. Not only that, they are safe cars. When we got our '97, our insurance agent said the rates on Saturns are lower than on other cars simply because they're safe. There's a few pluses to owning these cars. Thanks for all the help guys, even though I'm still totally confused. Keep it coming though!
