Thanks for the article, dj.ctwatt.
I know for 100% sure the Aveo doesn't compare in any way to the xA but I was just saying, if price is really an issue (such that even the xA is too expensive), then Aveo can be a viable choice for thousands (nearly $4000) less (I'm talking about street price, not MSRP, BTW).

 

if my uncle's gonna leave the states, i hope i can convince him to leave the suv but not sell it. but that's prolly not viable. it'd be sweet to drive a beater corolla and then whip a truck out for the weekend. hahah i'm just dreaming here as i prolly wouldn't be taking care of it for him.


also, i saw a 4 door toyota truck, with open space behind it, for 11g!!!! that's hella cool, O.C., H.B. chick style! but it's not a gas saver. and body roll is an issue, plus cost to replace tires gonna cost sum as well.

but wouldn't u guys agree it'll be a great choice?

 

the kia was rated the worst cars they have ever crash tested it did not even get a "poor" on the rating scales !!!!

 

Gas doesn't HAVE to be that high. Kia doesn't build junk anymore....even if they aren't quite in the Lexus league yet.

 

after driving a lexus, no way could you drive a kia and be happy. gas isnt that high compared to your happiness...just my 2 cents

 

Depends on what you mean by " Happy ". Granted, there is a noticible difference in ride, noise, handling, refinement, etc.... between a Lexus GS and a $10-13,000 Kia Rio, but keep in mind two things. First, Kia doesn't make junk like they used to, and second, some people are happy saving gas, insurance, maintenance, and maybe personal property tax money.
Even the Rio, while not a Lexus by any stretch, is today an acceptable car by entry-level standards.
My boss just bought one for commuting...a Cinco wagon ( yes, I'm serious ) for $13,000 and is well-pleased with it for the money. I inspected it throughly and found the fit-and-finish as good as anything today coming out of Japan. (for the price).

 

What about getting a used Honda Accord like a 96' ? Has good room, decent gas, reliable and I can't see the insurance being to bad seeing its a tad bit older.

 

"Depends on what you mean by " Happy ". "

granted everyone has their own definition of what makes them happy. i guess just for me, i couldn't be happy with it, but then again, another person may be happy with the saved gas, maintenance, etc...to each his/her own.

 

I've looked at and test-driven the Aveo. It is built for Chevrolet by Daewoo of Korea. Even in the higher-line versions, it is BASE transportation at best. The engine is noisy, the interior and dash are rather stark, the ride is bumpy, the doors are tinny, and the 6/60 drivetrain waranty is OK but cannot match Hyundai / Kia's 10 / 100,000 or 5-year bumper-to-bumper. It DOES come in some nice bright colors, though...especially the hatchback, but other than that, in my opinion, the Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent are noticeably better entry-level cars for the money...especially the Accent.

 

Depends on what you mean by " Happy ". Granted, there is a noticible difference in ride, noise, handling, refinement, etc....


yes, save=happy.


what brand is ur boss' car? the cinco

 

Say it ain't so....

Talgrl...for under $10K just get a used toyota or honda and call it a day...over $10K look at something new...this isn't for the rest of your life...so another Lexus could be in your near future...never know. And make sure you sit in the cars and test out if there is enough room...you are Tall Girl BTW

Saving for that new house yet???

 

The Cinco is a 5-door wagon version of the Kia Rio. Sells in the very low teens...perhaps the cheapest 5-door available in the country, next to the Aveo 5-door, which the Cinco trounces refinement-wise. The fit-and-finish of the Rio and Hyundai Accent are comparable to good Japanese cars now, but the engines and drivetrains are not as efficient...they do not get quite the same HP or gas mileage per liter, but it is close. They are definitely worth what they cost, though, in my opinion.

 

However, talgrl, I know you are partial to Toyota / Lexus. You might feel strange giving your money to another company, so I agree with some of the other posters that you could look first at lower-priced Scions, Echos, and Corollas. I personally don't like the styling and the goofy center-mount gauge clusters in the Scion xA, xB, or Echo, but you might...that is a personal taste. The Corolla CE is much more conventional inside and out, and if the CE is too plain for you, you could look at the sporty "S" model for a few dollars more, or the new XRS with the Celica's 180 HP engine for a little more.

 

Buying a Scion is very easy....there is no bargaining for the car itself. Like Saturns, they sell at list...no markups, no discounts. The bargaining part comes on the financing, trade-in ( if applicable ) , or the many dealer-installed accessories if you want them.

 

hehehes, kva, u know what's going on. yea, i think i'm def. gonna need to get a used corolla or something for under 10k. and yes, u know where all those saved money will be going to ^__^