Well I definitely know I want something fuel efficient.

I might also consider something like the diesel TSX or Accord.

 

Altima Hybrid? aren't they built around there? 35mpg

 

Not a fan of the current lineup of hybrids out there... I think it's very difficult if not impossible to make a case for the extra cost and complexity a hybrid brings on for a small gain in efficiency.

I am interested in a plug in electric vehicle, possibly with a supplemental gasoline motor, like the new Volt. If that's out by late 2009 I'll definitely look at it.

 

go buy a yaris and do this http://www.turbomagazine.com/tech/07...ris/index.html

 

A guy I worked with last year had a cobalt S with the supercharger and had to give it back to the dealership because it had so many problems and literally fell apart as he drove it and it qualified under the lemon law. He was afraid he would miss too much work because the cobalt was in the shot so much. If I were you I would get a used civic, corrolla, 4 cyl accord, integra if you were looking for a car under 10K with good gas mileage.

 

Used Hondas retain way too much resale value.

If I was going with a Honda I'd buy new to take advantage of that... problem is to buy a Civic would cost me 60% more initially over the Cobalt.

Not that I can't afford it, but it just cuts into the whole value proposition.

Single case scenarios like your friends are something to pay attention to but are not indicative of the average. I've known people with some pretty ridiculous lemon civics before as well. Overall the Cobalts seem to hold up at least average for their class.

 

looks like you already made up your mind on the Cobalt!

 

Under 10grand for a brand new car is an unbeatable deal. Since gas ain't about to get cheap again. You might as well learn to like tin can class vehicles. I say go for it.

Unfortunately, Once gas prices hit 5bucks or more, it won't be long before the Cobalt becomes too fuel inefficient to operate, it's time to downgrade again. Hopefully the Chinese will have perfected their $4000 cars to meet US safety standards by then, but the cycle continues. Only way out is to find ways to make mo money so you won't have to change your lifestyle due to high gas prices!!

 

I don't believe that you don't think image is important.. If you did you wouldn't have got a BMW, Audi, and Lexus and have to lease them to have one in your garage either.

If reliability is that important to you then you should get a Honda Fit or something. Going bottom of the barrel GM car like a cobalt will give you 1. shoddy image. 2. cheapo build quality 3. probably not as good reliability and 4. really bad resale. All compared to getting a new Honda Fit or even a used Honda Fit. If you've already decided to get a Cobalt and seems like you have there's no reason for you to try and justify your reasons here on a Lexus forum. I say just do what you do and who cares.

 

I'm not very impressed with the Cobalt mechanically, but the fit/finish in it is much better than its Chevy Cavalier predecessor, which, like the Dodge Neon, was a piece of junk in just about every way you could imagine.
The Cobalt interior, in top-line trim, is not bad....though it has much of the same GM plastic, the plastic is now much better looking and feeling.

 

I'd have driven those cars if the label was changed to something less prestigious just as quickly. I bought (not leased) the Lexus for legendary quality and reliability, not for the Lexus name. In fact I got tired of people making a big deal out of me owning a Lexus at 20 years of age (And always assuming I had help from a parent or something when I didn't) so I just started telling people I drove a Toyota-made sedan... they never asked for clarification so it avoided the bother. The BMW and Audi I got for the driving experience.


Who said I had to lease them? Leasing is something tons of very well off and financially educated people choose to do for many reasons, none of which is the more commonly accepted ghetto-fabulous reason of 'lower payments'... that was not at all the reason I chose to lease. My 335i's lease payment is less than 5% of my post-tax income. Believe me, I didn't NEED to lease. Leasing saved me money... quite a bit of money, actually.

Have you driven a Fit? I find them to be pretty miserable vehicles to drive. I'd get a Civic looong before I'd get a Fit.
The Fit's average fuel economy is all of 1/2 of a mpg better than the Cobalt XFE.

1- Again, I don't care about the image of my material possessions.
2- Yes the build quality is not good. I'm just not sure it's so bad that I can't look past it if I'm paying nearly half the price that I'd be paying for a Civic or Corolla when they're otherwise comparable cars.
3-Probably also true but not as dramatically as common perception seems to be. Not to mention the Cobalt will generally be less expensive to fix. GM parts are pretty inexpensive.
4-You see Cobalts for cheaper, used, but a lot of that is because they can be bought for quite a bit less. If I buy an $8500 Cobalt then who cares if it's only worth $3000 after 100,000 miles. I lost all of $5500 in depreciation.

I'm still 15 months away from end of lease on my 335i. Suffice to say my mind wanders and I could have a completely different mindset by that time... in fact I probably will.

I just wanted to see if the other fellow cheap bastards on the site saw as great of a potential financial 'win' in that car as I do.

 

You can do what you want but there are a million ways to justify anything. The smartest choice pricewise is not always the best choice. You yourself said you value the thrill of the driving experience that's why you leased the 335. You said you saved a lot of money by leasing that car.. well imagine the amount of $ you woulda saved if you thought about it and got the cobalt before even leasing the 335. Anyway That's an emotional decision not a practical one. In the end I think you'll be happiest with something that strikes a good balance between saving $ and your driving pleasure. If the Cobalt is the one that does that for you then by all means get it. If you do though PLEASE don't come back and start a thread saying how awesome it is compared to your old car how we're all suckers for paying too much for a lexus.

 

I've never been one to claim my current car is the most awesome thing known to man. I've had many criticisms for my 335i if you read around.

Though I know what you're talking about... there are some that would go buy a Cobalt and then try and make a case how it's faster than this car that costs twice as much and should be compared with this other car because they both offer leather, etc...

Believe me... I hate it when people do that, so I won't be one to do it.

 

you're used to luxury cars dude. I really doubt you'll be able to stand the cobalt.

Considering your income, why would you even want to save money? if you make upwards 10k a month... like you say you do.

 

Yeah I may be expecting too much from myself. That's why I think maybe the TSX diesel might be a good middle ground for me. Good reliability, good resale value, good mileage, semi-luxury... but of course 3 times the price.
I guess I'll see.

Well I didn't say what I made... unless you know my BMW's lease payment and my tax rate.

But to answer your question... I'm young... 26 years old.. making good money because I have a pretty decent paying job and so does my wife. Thing is once kids come into the picture my wife will not be working anymore and she makes almost what I do, meaning our income gets cut in half.

So for the next 4 years with our income at the level it's at now, I'm working on paying off our house, getting retirement accounts boosted enough to not need anymore contributions, etc, so that when that income reduction does happen, we won't actually have to adjust our lifestyle at all because for one, we'll already be used to a lower expendable income from the past few years, and also because we won't have to make a house payment or retirement contributions.

So that's my answer... I'm almost making a sport out of being a cheap bastard now so that I can reap the benefits later on in life.