Your mission:
Buy a new car.
It has to be the cheapest in the manufacturer's' lineup - poverty trim: no frippery, no packages, no options.
It has to be available in the USA
The goal:
Assess from the experience which of the manufacturers gives the most inexpensive goodness rather than the most cynical cheapness.
I'm still looking but they seem to center around $17,000 - and are hard to actually find on a dealer lot.
And my thing about no frippery: a manual transmission say Yaris might save $1,000 but on resale you are restricted to the minuscule pool of people who can operate a manual. So I'm going to say okay on an auto... but indicate if there's a cheaper manual
Honda Fit. $16190 with manual transmission. $16990 with CVT.
I drove my Dad's Ford Ecosport which for 2020 is the cheapest car in their line-up ($19995). It drove well and I liked how the rear seat passengers were slightly elevated which gives them a better view out. I didn't take it on the highway though and I think there's better stuff out there which is cheaper than an Ecosport like a Kia Soul. Ford no longer sells cars in the US in the $17000 price range.
Chevy Sparks are $14,395, currently $1k off for a total of $13,395 with manual transmission.
I think Fits are probably nicer and a bit larger, but $3k nicer? :hmm:
A bare bones Ferrari 488 GTB is only $252,800. I think I can live without any option packages.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on June 30, 2020, 10:35:14 AM
Chevy Sparks are $14,395, currently $1k off for a total of $13,395 with manual transmission.
I think Fits are probably nicer and a bit larger, but $3k nicer? :hmm:
Yes, it is. :lol: Have you been in a Spark?
Hmm - least expensive Ford is the Ecosport - $20k - but that, IMO, falls into the cynical & cheap category.
Quote from: MrH on June 30, 2020, 01:40:14 PM
Yes, it is. :lol: Have you been in a Spark?
Nope.
Quote from: Morris Minor on June 30, 2020, 01:45:07 PM
Hmm - least expensive Ford is the Ecosport - $20k - but that, IMO, falls into the cynical & cheap category.
Yeah, $20k seems like a lot for a lifted econocar. Should be $15k.
Fits are a killer deal for the space, efficiency, and features you get for the money.
Quote from: veeman on June 30, 2020, 10:32:35 AM
Honda Fit. $16190 with manual transmission. $16990 with CVT.
I drove my Dad's Ford Ecosport which for 2020 is the cheapest car in their line-up ($19995). It drove well and I liked how the rear seat passengers were slightly elevated which gives them a better view out. I didn't take it on the highway though and I think there's better stuff out there which is cheaper than an Ecosport like a Kia Soul. Ford no longer sells cars in the US in the $17000 price range.
I was not impressed with the EcoSport. It was plainly obvious it was built for developing countries. It honestly felt cheaper than the Fiesta, yet starts several thousand more than the Fiesta used to start at.
Kia Soul? ($17,500 [+$1,500 for the CVT])
Quote from: MX793 on June 30, 2020, 03:58:50 PM
I was not impressed with the EcoSport. It was plainly obvious it was built for developing countries. It honestly felt cheaper than the Fiesta, yet starts several thousand more than the Fiesta used to start at.
Yeah my Dad (who only buys/leases from GM, Ford, or potentially FCA [his first years in the US in the late 60s were spent in Ann Arbor, Michigan]) wanted a cheap lease. He and my Mom didn't like the Chevy Trax because the cheap lease model didn't come with a center armrest, so I told him to look at the Ford Ecosport. Him and my Mom liked it when they test drove it. I kept telling him to lease the New Ford Escape instead but he didn't want to fork over the extra cash. Now that he's had it for a while, he thinks it's just OK. He hates the sideways opening hatch/trunk and thinks the trunk space with the rear seats up is too small. He also thinks the gas mileage is bad for a small car. I told him the small trunk is what you get for wanting the cheapest lease and gas is cheap right now :lol: I drove it quite a bit when I was at my folks house a few weeks ago but not on the highway. Locally I felt it had plenty of power, tracked straight, and had good room for a small car. But yeah, it should be about 2 to 3 grand cheaper which is a lot.
Quote from: Morris Minor on June 30, 2020, 04:53:48 PM
Kia Soul? ($17,500 [+$1,500 for the CVT])
According to your original criteria though, you can't pick the Soul. There's a cheaper new Kia available in the US. (Kia Rio).
The Kia Soul is a real nice car though and a good deal.
Quote from: veeman on June 30, 2020, 04:59:43 PM
According to your original criteria though, you can't pick the Soul. There's a cheaper new Kia available in the US. (Kia Rio).
The Kia Soul is a real nice car though and a good deal.
You're right - The base Rio is 16k and includes a CVT. And a ton standard features.
Quote from: Morris Minor on June 30, 2020, 05:11:53 PM
You're right - The base Rio is 16k and includes a CVT. And a ton standard features.
Base Rio has a CVT? Base Accent has a 6 speed manual. Accent wins.
I was shocked to find that the X1 is actually cheaper than the 2 series and comes pretty well equipped at $35,200.
The Jetta S is much closer to this $17,000 number, but does seem a bit cynical. But then again, anything with cloth seats makes me feel like it's a prison.
I would openly welcome the return of high quality cloth seats.
Quote from: Soup DeVille on July 01, 2020, 08:54:15 AM
I would openly welcome the return of high quality cloth seats.
Mohair.
Burlap.
Quote from: Soup DeVille on July 01, 2020, 08:54:15 AM
I would openly welcome the return of high quality cloth seats.
VW's fabric seats (especially their plaid colored ones) are really good.
Quote from: MX793 on July 01, 2020, 09:54:35 AM
Velour.
I would suspect that most modern fabrics used for car seats are synthetic. Mohair, as commonly used in older vehicles, is a cloth made from the Angora goat hair which I recall as having a texture that is slightly bristly but also soft, a bit of a contradiction. Very comfortable to sit on.
Quote from: Soup DeVille on July 01, 2020, 08:54:15 AM
I would openly welcome the return of high quality cloth seats.
We had a Prius with fabric seats. They were more comfortable than leather. It's one area where poverty spec beats rich-bastard spec IMHO.
A Nissan Versa S with a 5 speed is only 14,700.
Cruise Control. Bluetooth. Aux jack. Power Doors/Windows. Google Assistant. Lane departure warning. Emergency braking.
I mean, if you needed something bare bones?
Quote from: FoMoJo on July 01, 2020, 10:37:36 AM
I would suspect that most modern fabrics used for car seats are synthetic. Mohair, as commonly used in older vehicles, is a cloth made from the Angora goat hair which I recall as having a texture that is slightly bristly but also soft, a bit of a contradiction. Very comfortable to sit on.
But it's not velour. One of my friends in high school had an early 80s Olds Cutlass with velour seats that could have doubled as Barcaloungers. Soooo comfy. I understand why so many drivers of these cars died peacefully in their sleep while behind the wheel.
Quote from: Soup DeVille on July 01, 2020, 08:54:15 AM
I would openly welcome the return of high quality cloth seats.
I don't even know what that means. Like silk?
Quote from: Raza on July 01, 2020, 09:24:10 PM
I don't even know what that means. Like silk?
Like alcantara, or high quality tweed. Materials that feel nice and wear nice and breathe better than leather.
I want Corinthian cloth.
Quote from: Soup DeVille on July 02, 2020, 04:56:45 AM
Like alcantara, or high quality tweed. Materials that feel nice and wear nice and breathe better than leather.
But with leather you can punch little holes in it and pipe in cooled air (provided you buy the $2,500 Executive Package)
Quote from: Morris Minor on July 02, 2020, 03:39:29 PM
But with leather you can punch little holes in it and pipe in cooled air (provided you buy the $2,500 Executive Package)
You can pump cool air through cloth without needing to poke holes in it.
Quote from: veeman on June 30, 2020, 04:59:43 PM
According to your original criteria though, you can't pick the Soul. There's a cheaper new Kia available in the US. (Kia Rio).
The Kia Soul is a real nice car though and a good deal.
Hah.
My sister and her wife just bought a Kia Rio 3 T GDi. It's loaded with everything – they're thrilled with it.
1.0L. 99 BHP. 0-60 10.3 sec. Hatchback.
Kia Rio are nice little cars.
Quote from: Soup DeVille on July 02, 2020, 04:56:45 AM
Like alcantara, or high quality tweed. Materials that feel nice and wear nice and breathe better than leather.
Alcantara and tweed breathe better than leather?
Quote from: Raza on July 04, 2020, 06:12:24 AM
Alcantara and tweed breathe better than leather?
Yes. Maybe.
Also, it would just be different than choosing between grey, tan, or black leather.
Quote from: WookieOnRitalin on July 01, 2020, 08:20:52 PM
A Nissan Versa S with a 5 speed is only 14,700.
But they're horrible.
I've heard the new 2020 Versa is actually OK. Older ones completely suck. Getting stuck with one as a rental was like getting a home made doll for elementary school secret Santa.
Quote from: AutobahnSHO on July 04, 2020, 09:11:53 AM
But they're horrible.
Yes, but the back seat is huuuuuge.
Quote from: Soup DeVille on July 04, 2020, 07:57:27 AM
Yes. Maybe.
Also, it would just be different than choosing between grey, tan, or black leather.
I'm comfortable with that level of choice, though.
Quote from: Raza on July 04, 2020, 09:34:10 PM
I'm comfortable with that level of choice, though.
Dark brown is the head for leather, imo
Quote from: mzziaz on July 06, 2020, 03:03:17 AM
Dark brown is the head for leather, imo
Brown leather is great, they just have to choose appropriate colors for the rest of the interior. I hate it when cars have brown or tan leather seats and the rest is all black. Most companies don't get the dash color right.