Cheap new car with good mpg advice

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Grimjaws

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I lucked out and got a great deal on a new 2019 Ram Classic in December 2019. Employee pricing plus $4500 rebates and 0% financing plus a great trade in. The price of new trucks are crazy so this one has to last. It’s my forever truck 😀

Been dealing with some family issues and having to drive 40 minutes one way 4-6 times a week - elderly parent needs some help. Putting lots of miles on the newish truck.

I was able to work from home last year and keep the miles low but with my work commute back and now driving to moms house I’m racking up the miles and the truck doesn’t get the best mileage

So looking at a cheap point a to b car. I’ve tried used and always get burned. Last used car was under warranty thankfully and had in 9 months the steering column replaced, all four tie rods, the tires twice and the transmission rebuilt- previous owner must have beat the heck out of it
So I’m looking at new

Don’t need any bells or whistles just a good mpg there and back car
Only requirement is a center armrest

Narrowed down to
Kia Rio
Hyundai Accent
Nissan Versa
Chevrolet Spark

Anyone own one of these from the past few years? Thoughts? Advice greatly appreciated

I know it’s a crazy time to buy a small car now but looks like everyone wants an suv and I know a few local dealers to help out
 
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We drove past our car dealers row like most town and cities have this weekend. The lots were EMPTY but for Nissan. All the used car lots, were empty. Most weren’t even open—“no inventory check us out online” were the signs in the windows.

I think your decision will be driven (no pun intended) by what you can find locally. Here there would be no “shopping” simply buying what one can find.

Used car prices to stay high until automakers fix production issues
 
Around here foreign car dealers their lots are full of new cars, I don't know about used. American car dealers don't have much.

Sent from my LGL455DL using Tapatalk
 
I'd reject all 4 and buy Honda or Toyota, period. If you pay a bit more going in you'll get it back when it's time to sell. :)

Go to Youtube and check out Scotty Kilmer's videos. He's a hoot and a lifelong mechanic. Scotty will tell you to buy a used Civic, Accord, Camry or Corolla.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN30KqBl6HA[/ame]
 
Was just at the local Ford dealer. They have a fair number of used vehicles, but almost nothing new. Salesman said they are selling everything on order before it even comes in. If it;s that way where you live you'll have to just take whatever you can find if you need a car right now.
 
Gas prices are probably going to increase so it might be smart to buy as new as you can afford as things requiring more driving may last awhile. Keeping your tires inflated properly, conservative driving, and shopping gas prices are good ways to help reduce your cash outlay .
 
Are you sure spending multiple thousands of dollars on an extra car, plus maintenance and insurance, is going to save you money?...Have you done the math on the difference in mileage versus just driving the truck you already know you like?...I wouldn't spend an extra nickel to cram myself into a little skateboard of a car knowing my comfortable Dodge truck was deteriorating from lack of use in the driveway at home...

I see it akin to the argument of buying a S&W revolver and letting it become a safe queen as opposed to shooting it...It's your choice certainly, but make sure you'll be gaining what you expect...:cool:...Ben
 
Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla would be on my short list, too. Mazda makes some nice small cars, too, and they're fun to drive.
 
I'm sorry, but the math of buying another car just for the gas mileage rarely works out. A new car is going to be $14k minimum. Then you have to register, maintain and insure it every year. In this state that would be another $1200/year at least. Are you going to save $15k+ in gas over the period you have to do this traveling? I doubt it.

I had coworkers do this when gas spiked over $4/gallon in 2005. Doing the math for them just resulted in long faces, wringing of hands and comments like, "Well, even if that's true, you cannot look at it like that".:confused::confused::confused: Color me utterly baffled. Every car salesman in the valley with Corollas, Civics and small Hyundais did very well for a few months. Those that could sell the Toyota Prius probably now own the big houses on the golf course over the way.
 
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Some additional info

It’s not only about getting better mileage but keeping the miles on my truck lower.

I’m really just looking for first hand advice on the cars listed
 
Grimjaws said:
It’s not only about getting better mileage but keeping the miles on my truck lower.

I’m really just looking for first hand advice on the cars listed
Click to expand...

I understand that less miles on the truck saves money because of less frequent servicing and better trade-in value. But again I have serious doubts that these savings and the lower gas costs will come anywhere near the outlay on a new vehicle and its standing costs.
 
The company I work at has had great results with Kia products.

Mine is a Sorento nearing a quarter million miles.

I wouldn't hesitate in buying a Kia product to drive the **** out of.
 
There are several cost-per-mile sites to help determine which car may be the best long-term investment. Cars are a depreciating assist so "investment" may not be the best term.

A three-year-old car coming off a lease may be a better choice to keep the initial cost tolerable.

You might also consider other options for your parent. I'd look into having someone local check on my parent and maybe do some housekeeping and yardwork.

A friend funded a father-in-law apartment addition to his son's home with the understanding that the addition became his son's when he passed.

There are a host of options.
 
I totally get the idea of the primary goal being to reduce the miles put on the truck . Save it for actual truck things, towing, or 4x4 on purpose , and conversely keep it in service for a loooong time , if not indefinitely , and use a beater car for mindless commuting. I've done variations on the themes . Albeit always with used cars .

My one and only ever new vehicle purchase was in 1988 , due to vary strange regional market conditions in my area then .

But right at the moment , the country/ world's vehicular marketplace is in a strange place due to fallout of the Zombie Apocalypse ( more the political mismanagement thereof , but either way beyond our control ) .It might be worthwhile to wait out a year or so for the production/ demand calculus to restabilize before adding an additional discretionary vehicle .
 
LVSteve said:
I'm sorry, but the math of buying another car just for the gas mileage rarely works out. A new car is going to be $14k minimum. Then you have to register, maintain and insure it every year. In this state that would be another $1200/year at least.
Click to expand...
I agree... I had two vehicles for a number of years; a Ford Expedition and a car. The Mrs. also has a vehicle. I needed the Expedition for hunting trips and towing a boat, but didn’t like racking up miles on it and wanted to reduce fuel costs.

As Steve mentioned, each vehicle requires annual registration fees, maintenance and insurance. I don’t know where the OP is located, but $1200 per vehicle is a low estimate for plates and insurance here in Michigan. That much money will buy a lot of gasoline.

It’s also bad for a vehicle to sit and I don’t have room to park them in the garage. I didn’t drive my Expedition much in the summer, so the rotors would rust, the battery would run down and critters took up residence and caused damage. Birds liked to hang out under the body and their droppings are very corrosive. My BIL had rodents stash food in the engine compartment and chew through wiring.

Pick-up trucks have a much longer service life compared to cars. I’m also doubting the wisdom of driving a truck until it’s worn out. I kept some for 12 or more years in the past and the resale value was negligible. I traded in my last PU truck after 7 years and 90,000 miles. The dealer allowed me about $23,000 in trade, plus a healthy rebate. My brother had a similar truck that was 1 year older and had 130,000 miles. He got around $7,000 on a trade in. I was told that banks don’t want to finance trucks with over 100,000 miles, so they’re much harder for dealers to sell. Vehicles also require additional maintenance costs as they get older and that can really add up.

Vehicle prices are crazy right now, but this probably won’t last for ever. If i could live without a truck for a few years, I’d sell mine and buy a less expensive car. When the market settles down and year end rebates return, I’d sell the car and get a new truck.
 
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