Jalopnik
When we posted the video of the Non-dancing Chevrolet Aveo, it wasn't our intention to launch a conversation on the various merits of cheap cars. But since everyone is so excited about comparing Aveos to Scions and Citroens to Skodas we'll seize the zeitgeist and continue it here. And we understand this might be a difficult question since we're asking about "new" vehicles and some of you could easily get 30 cars for that price, but there are people out there who buy new vehicles. Shockingly, more than a few of them read this site and some of them aren't going to buy a Veyron.
So here are the parameters, you've got the arbitrary amount of $15,000 dollars to spend, after rebates but without any trade-ins or any fuzzy math. The car has to be new and, if you're going to come under MSRP, you better supply the details as to how you're doing it. The whole world is open so try and use the latest currency conversions to bring it back to the US Dollar, which will greatly limit you with European cars. When supporting your decision feel free to use mileage, resale value, fun factor, power and hilarious foreign names as factors.
Comments
Four first generation Miatas. Five E12s. Seven CRXs. The top 30 finishers at the Altamont LeMons.
Oh wait, has to be NEW...
Screw it. I stand by my answer.
Could we use a more stable currency than the (beloved) Dollar? something like rocks, pebbles or pheasant eggs? Because where I live, there are only 3 or 4 cars in the sub 10K EURO range; and I don't feel like discussing the Dacia Logan...
The #1 car in my $15k mindspace is the base 2.5L VW Rabbit/Golf. I still think it's the most car for the money, reliability aside.
Suzuki Jimny
Honda Fit. Nerdy, yes, but it is one of the few Japanese cars sold in the U.S. that looks like cars you see in Japan. It'll also hold a lot for such a small car and it gets good mileage.
A NEW car under 15? Frankly, no. The best cheap car is a Honda Fit Sport which comes in 270 dollars above your 15,000 threshold - that would be the cheapest new car I would buy. So no, no Hyundai Accent. No Kia Rio.
I would pirkc up a three year old low-mileage RSX Type S or GTI VR6 for that price, thank you. I wouldn't WASTE 15,000 of my own hard-earned dollars on a car I hate just have a new one. That's silly.
I suppose if forced I'd get one of the small Scions - the xD, with the 1.8L engine. At least it'd get good fuel economy and be useful. But still, urgh, no thanks.
I can't fit into anything that costs $15K.
With $2,500 cutomer cash that'll squeak yah below $15,000 and you get an auto and cloth seats ;-)
[www50.forddirect.fordvehicles.com]
Honda Fit -- Awesome handling and its a honda so its got tons of after-market support. I owned one and when I sold it there was still a waitting list! They are so light you can just throw em around corners like no tomorrow!
www.fitfreak.net for more information..
@prndl: Link broke. What is it F-150 King Ranch?
i'm waiting for suzuki to bring the swift! the sx4 is okay but the swift is where its at :)
2005 F-250. I think they're going for about that much now.
Oh, you mean a new small car, like a tender for that truck?
Holding out for the Fiesta- it's a party.
With $15K to spend, I'd lease a stripper BMW 328 for 2 years.
Does it count if you can sell enough parts off of it to get below the $15K mark?
I'd have to go with the Suzuki SX-4 right now. I still can't get the bad taste out of my mouth from my Honda Civic experience so there won't ever be another dealer purchased Honda at my house (car anyway). Same with Toyotas, if I buy one it will be it's last stop on the way to the junkyard. I won't buy a new one.
I'd consider an Aveo but only used. Let someone else take that initial hit. But I drive 40 miles a day so I'd drive any transportation special that I can offer to the gods of disposable automotive conveyance.
Boring answers but here is an assortment.
Mazda 3
Suzuki SX4
Toyota Tacoma
Nissan Versa (Hatch)
Without thinking about rebates.
With rebates
Chevy HHR
If this is going to be my only vehicle:
Chevy Colorado Std. cab, 2wd. MSRP $14,885
If I can keep my old truck for occasional hauling duty:
Mazda3 I sport sedan (manual) MSRP $13,995
Not much for an enthusiast in the sub $15k range, but for basic transportation, these will do.
Toyota Yaris S hatchback.
Fit starts at $13,950 with destination and handling it is $14,585. Gets my vote.
@tenbeers: a
How big are you? I am 6'3" 260 and fit comfortably in both the Yaris 3 door and the Smart.
@cubensis: 6'4" 225 and claustrophobic
I'd have a FIt. Then I'd mosey down to my friendly Honda dealer and get one of those new little cars that's as big as the Accord was before it grew too big for it's britches. The Honda Fit (current model) lists at $13,950. Tax and license would add another $1,600 or there abouts, so out the door about $15,550.00 total. That's based on MSRP, and actual out the door might be less as this model is being replaced.
BASE Dodge Ram 1500 1/2 ton shortbed, 2WD. $14,664 acording to Edmunds: [www.edmunds.com]
It will be the last truck I ever buy. Lifetime warranty.
2.0L Mazda3 MSRPs at $13,895 with a manual is one heckuva good deal. Too bad you can't get the hatch for under $15k
@DeadFlorist: Does it count if you can sell enough parts off of it to get below the $15K mark?
Okay, Mr. Lutz, your cover is blown.
@adamaoc: I have to agree with the Swift, the SX4 is nice as it is based on the Swift, but the Swift is the definition of Hot Hatch.
Mazda 3 5-door: Ford x-plan pricing
Chevy Colorado: GM employee friends/family pricing
6 Tata Nano(e)s
Back in Blighty, $15k = £7,701.47.
Which = Citroen C1, or something else equally likely to remind you that waiting for someone else to take the hit on the first years depreciation is generally a good idea.
Plus, the tax on used vehicles is less swingeing (as you would expect for secondhand goods). Dunno if that applies in the US.
@P161911: Good call, I was going that way with a base 5.3 Silverado.
Waiting to see the Kia Soul and the Nissan Cube. I want a cube. BAD. I loved the old Scion XB. But then they screwed it up. Too big. My ten year old Suzuki Sidekick gets better gas mileage, and that's with 4WD.
2 door, Manual Focus.
In an ideal world (where the dealer won't gouge $1500 for paint sealant and wheel locks), a Honda Fit.
But in real money, Nissan Versa.
[www.zapworld.com]
$11,200. Uses no $4 a gallon gas. Will go up to 40 mph. 25 miles per charge. It would handle the daily city job commuting needs of most people.
Now, excuse me while I duck out quickly after everybody lobs rotten tomatoes at me.
I haven't driven any except an elantra from 4 years ago (which was terrible) but as far as on paper and other people's impressions... I'm going with SX4.
Maybe a double post.
In an ideal world, where the dealer won't gouge $1500 for magic paint sealant and wheel locks, Honda Fit.
In real money, Nissan Versa.
@badco/LoJ: Nice going, dumbass.
@tenbeers: I went back and checked Ford and Chevy. You can get a Ford F-150 under the $15,000, but not a Chevy, at least according to Edmunds. I would probably opt for the longbed instead of the shortbed in the Dodge, it still comes in at $14,900 and change. Dodge has the $5,500 rebate right now to keep their's down. At the sub $15,000 range you are stuck with the 6 cylinder, no V-8, and probably no automatic.
I'd have to play some serious hardball with the dealer, but I'd try to score a 5-speed Chevy HHR Panel.
Otherwise, it'd be an Aveo 5-door. Actually, my answer would be Suzuki SX-4 if I didn't have to stare down my family and explain why I bought that "Japanese POS".
2008 Yamaha YZF-R1 (MSRP: $11,699). The post said "vehicle," not "car."
Chevy Aveo...
Just kidding!
Rabbit FTW
2008 GSXR-1000.
$11499.00.
Beats the pants off yamaha, honda, kawa every year, every style in both performance, technology and customer satisfaction.
Chevy, I know, used to offer what they called a W/T package, that got you the same basic Silverado for a bit less than the gussied up "base" model. My dad bought one- no fancy flush headlights, no fancy radio (just am/fm) and monochromatic paint. Not a bad deal.
I was originally thinking Honda Fit but I might go with the caller who suggested a base Colorado. The Mazda 3 is a nice car but I've heard of lousy MPG #'s with Mazdas.
The Aveo 5 door is cute as hell, but wait till you drive it. Oh my god. My '63 Dart is more refined and pleasant to drive.
@P161911: If you're lucky you can still find some 2007 "classic" Silverados on dealer lots going for fire sale prices (like $13K for a V8 work truck)
@BLS: Link broken watch for finger.
I cannot get the window sticker to show up. I was going for what you can actually get off the lot, and not some special order, that you actually cannot.
Price Information MSRP
STANDARD VEHICLE PRICE $14,330
Key Standard Equipment
BLACK MIRRORS
BLK H-BAR GRILLE
WHEELS, STYLED SILVER 15"
SECURILOCK - PATS
BLACK BUMPER
Optional Equipment
2008 MODEL YEAR
OXFORD WHITE C/C
MEDIUM DARK FLINT CLOTH
PREFERRED EQUIPMENT PKG.861A
.XL TRIM
.AM/FM STEREO/CLOCK
.2.3L EFI I4 ENGINE
5-SPD AUTOMATIC O/D TRANS 1,000
.P225 STEEL BSW A/SEASON TIRES
4.10 RATIO REGULAR AXLE
FRONT LICENSE PLATE BRACKET
4380 GVWR
T145/80D16 MINI SPARE
CRUISE CONTROL/TILT STRG WHL 385
AIR CONDITIONING-CFC FREE 850
CLOTH 60/40 SPLIT BENCH SEAT 220
__________
TOTAL VEHICLE & OPTIONS 16,785
DESTINATION & DELIVERY 695
TOTAL MSRP $17,480.00
@tenbeers:
My local dealer just showed me an 08 F150 V6 I could get brand new for about $10-11K after A plan and incentives.
Hell, I didn't even know there was a V6.
30 used cars ... please - some of us would like them to be as least in one piece and running. That and we do splurge every once in a while and buy something really nice. So for me, that $15k really only means my 13 cars (and 1 truck) over the past 10 years ...
That said, depending on my need (or mood), it'd be either an ad-special one-at-this-price base model Fusion or Sonata ($14,999 after rebates and dealer discounts), a Fit (at near MSRP), or if I needed another truck, an Isuzu i-290 ($13,800 for an extended cab before dealer discounts).
2008 Nissan Cube
Base price: $13,821
Just don't add the cost of shipping it over.....making it legal
@rlj676: Good deal, though I find V6s pretty pointless in fullsize trucks...you lose power and really don't gain any economy...at least this is true as far as the Chevys go, the 4.3 V6 Silverados dont get any better mileage than the 5.3 V8s, and in fact its typically a bit worse.
I am not sure if this applies to the F150s.
Mazda 3 four door with a manual transmission. Too bad the hatch isn't cheaper.
@rlj676: Without company plan?
If your not getting a company plan and you're not planning on a special order, then Nissan and VW are out. VW doesn't even start that low. There are not a lot of choices and Edmunds will get you that deal how?
You are the one that has to get that bargain. Good luck, I haven't even seen a Fit at the local dealership, nor have I had any luck with them bargaining.
@prndl: VW doesn't even start that low.
They JUST upped the Rabbit $600, but for 2007 models, ~$14,990 is/was the big advertised MSRP. I was going from memory, excluding TT&L and negotiation, of course.