Speaking of cheapo cars...

[Perfectlap]

I have to arrange for a lease of a fuel efficient bare bones cheap car in Orlando, Florida.
My Options are Kia (Rio), Hyundai, Chevy (Aveo), Toyota (Saris), Suzuki.
I'm looking for a rock bottom monthly bill and high fuel efficiency. Seems like I can pull this off for less than $11K and there has to be minimal cash laid out.
Any suggestions or experience?

[cvhs18472]

When my son started driving I got him a new 2002 Hyundai Elantra. It now has 155k on the clock and still runs well. low 20's around town and high 20's low 30's on a long trip. I got him the Elantra because of his size 6'6' and 280. From what I understand the smaller Hyundai is much more fuel efficient and just as reliable. If you keep your service records there is no problem using the warantee.

[Chills]

Originally Posted by cvhs18472

When my son started driving I got him a new 2002 Hyundai Elantra. It now has 155k on the clock and still runs well. low 20's around town and high 20's low 30's on a long trip. I got him the Elantra because of his size 6'6' and 280. From what I understand the smaller Hyundai is much more fuel efficient and just as reliable. If you keep your service records there is no problem using the warantee.

+1

My DD is a 2002 Hyundai Elantra. I inherited it from my wife when I bought her a new car. It has 90k+ miles and runs great. Driving very consertively I can get 35 mph combined highway/city.

The few problems I've had were taken care of quickly by Hyundai. Good folks to work with.

[saaber]

Yaris is the best out of that list of "cars". I don't understand the $11k part. Are you trying to buy a car for that? Yaris is around $16k. Golf, I mean rabbit, is also $16k but I guess that is not an option? If you get a Yaris the "s" or sport model has seats that are more adjustable and will be more comfortable over many miles vs. the base car.

A possible cheaper and more reliable option (Toyota Yaris excluded I mean) is to buy a 92-95 civic VX. They get 56 mpg when new and used get about 51 mpg. The last one I bought I paid $2700 for. They will drive forever and cost next to nothing to keep on the road.

Base corollas and civics can get around 40mpg so a used one of these may be an ultrareliable option too and will get about the same mileage as the ones you mentioned?

[Perfectlap]

Yaris according to these guys starts at $12K or so. But either way I'm not financing, I should have made that clearer.
Used Honda may not be a bad idea. That would avoid comprehensive insurance each month.

[dcporsche99]

A couple of weeks ago, I went through the latest Consumer reports book ('01-'06) before my dad bought his Toyota 4Runner. It definitely shows that Toyotas, Hondas, and a few other Japanese makes and models have better than average results across the board. And their rating as used cars is better than average as well.

Just the other day at a local car shop, I met a guy who owned a '94 Corolla (original owner) with well over 300K. According to him, he's only had minor maintanence issues. Many other folks I know with Hondas and Toyotas have very similar stories (over 180K w/ minimal issues).

Good luck with your choice!

[saaber]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

Yaris according to these guys starts at $12K or so. But either way I'm not financing, I should have made that clearer.
Used Honda may not be a bad idea. That would avoid comprehensive insurance each month.

Wow you are right the Yaris is 12k now, i remember them being much more when they first came out in the US (they were out in Europe for a long time prior to the US). This car has a good track record and has been around long enough to work out all the bugs. I have had a bazillion cars and without a doubt the most consistently realiable cars have been the simplest available toyota followed extremely closely by the simplest Honda.

The Honda fit is another ultra-reliable and excellent car with an amazing amount of room but I don't know the current price (these cars have been out as the Honda Jazz in Europe for a long time also).

Another car to consider is the geo/chevy prism. The prism (prism only, not any other geo/chevy model) is a Toyota Corolla and is made side-by-side in the same factory. You can get a prism for much, much less than a corolla and it is the same car. I don't remember when they stopped making these though so they may be too old. Gas mileage is same as corolla of course.

[Dr. Kill]

Is this for you, a family member or employee? What are you using it for - DD? Doing some work in Orlando and need a ride when you are down there?

How long do you intend to keep the car? If you are leasing for just 1 year, what is the $11k figure for?

These answers should help clarify the situation a bit.

[Sammy]

I had a Hyundai Sonata as a rental car for a long business trip and I must say I was quite impressed. It felt very solid despite what I expected and the ride was pretty good. Nothing fancy, just a nice little car. I actually will consider a Hyundai as a future purchase in the event I need something economical.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by Dr. Kill

Is this for you, a family member or employee? What are you using it for - DD? Doing some work in Orlando and need a ride when you are down there?

How long do you intend to keep the car? If you are leasing for just 1 year, what is the $11k figure for?

These answers should help clarify the situation a bit.

its for a family member who lives most of the year but renting cars all the time for the random one or two week visit is getting old. Basically, very low mileage just something to get around in. My thought process on a leasing was that you'd always have a fairly new hassle free car at all times. I figure the lower the sticker price the lower the monthly lease price.

p.s.
I thought about a mini! I just the car on a list of best resale values. Do those cars come with automatic transmissions?

[victory3]

My Mother got into a Chevy Aveo, recently for about 12k. Its not a bad car, the interior looks good but is cheaply made. You can feel it in the interior parts, if you were to tug on certian interior parts hard enough, they would just pop off. But for the money its what you'd expect. Gas mileage is great, on the car. And I have taken it for a spin twice, and was actually amazed that the Aveo, has some decent pickup. Small size and fairly responsive steering, seem to make it an ok car for driving around town and commuting. If you slap in an aftermarket Stereo System, dare I say that this car can maybe even been fun. It's by far not our Boxsters mind you, but for a kick-around car around 12k not too shabby.

-VICTORY 3

[djomlas]

just get that Peel car, from the video they claim it gets about 100mpg

[rick3000]

What are you trying to do with it? Does it need to be new?
You could find an old (newer version) Mini Cooper in that price range. The reason I suggest that, is because my sisters consistently gets about 35+ MPG.

[LoveBunny]

Originally Posted by saaber

Yaris is the best out of that list of "cars". I don't understand the $11k part. Are you trying to buy a car for that? Yaris is around $16k. Golf, I mean rabbit, is also $16k but I guess that is not an option? If you get a Yaris the "s" or sport model has seats that are more adjustable and will be more comfortable over many miles vs. the base car.

A possible cheaper and more reliable option (Toyota Yaris excluded I mean) is to buy a 92-95 civic VX. They get 56 mpg when new and used get about 51 mpg. The last one I bought I paid $2700 for. They will drive forever and cost next to nothing to keep on the road.

Base corollas and civics can get around 40mpg so a used one of these may be an ultrareliable option too and will get about the same mileage as the ones you mentioned?

My ex has a '95 Civic and has done the worst possible job of anyone I've ever met maintaining his car. It won't die.

[Chills]

Originally Posted by LoveBunny

My ex has a '95 Civic and has done the worst possible job of anyone I've ever met maintaining his car. It won't die.

hahaha. My ex-wife still has our old '99 Civic. She tries to do regular maintenance but forgets. That car has close to 200k and still runs great.

Civics are great cars. I bought my current wife one. The new ones are pretty cool. They don't feel like an "entry level" Honda.

[Dr. Kill]

Originally Posted by Chills

The new ones are pretty cool. They don't feel like an "entry level" Honda.

I agree. My dad bought one recently. I drove it around a little and thought it was a great little car - even if you don't consider the pricepoint.