New Car Advice Needed? Small/Compact Cars

[Dillinger]

I'm wondering if anyone here might be able to give me some advice.

Which of the following cars might be the better one to purchase?

Chevrolet Prizm
Saturn SL2
Nissan Sentra
Ford Focus
Mazda Protege

And - if you can - why? Does any one of them considerably better than the others? Is any one of them a definite not buy?

Any advice/opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Chuckus]

Just my .02 cents worth.............

I would stay away from the Saturn as a friend of mine has one and it is not the best car ~ though I must say not the worst either but the track record is not too good.

The Sentra or the Focus are both pretty dependable cars and rather good on gas mileage also..........

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[Dillinger]

I was originally thinking of a hybrid but there have been some new studies that show they really don't get the gas mileage that has been claimed.

Anyway - my choice is among the five listed. Just trying to figure out which one might be the better choice.

 

[kotori]

I have a '92 Saturn SL (with no following number--bottom of the line--I'm well know for being parsimonious), with 125,000 miles on it, original clutch (5-speed), and it's still pretty quick. Burns a bit of oil, some of the interior plastic trim panels have come loose, but I can't complain.

I've driven a Focus a lot in work, they seem nice, but it was an automatic, and that always seems slower to me--I'm a shift for myself kinda guy.

 

[freakygirl]

I drove the Nissan Sentra a few weeks ago..

creamed my panties. God that is a great car. But I needed a little more room so I went for the Maxima instead.

(What I really wanted was the Xterra, but mom couldn't get up into it.. dammit)

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[freakygirl]

here is a page that you can read up on all the different styles of the Nissan Sentra

And I believe you can compare it other cars there also

 

[Vilac]

Which of the following cars might be the better one to purchase?

Chevrolet Prizm
Saturn SL2
Nissan Sentra
Ford Focus
Mazda Protege

Dillinger,
I used to sell Fords....but the Focus is one of the first ones I'd drop from your list. The Prizm I have no decent info on one way or the other...so that's a tossup.

As far as the Nissan or the Mazda go...you'd be just fine. Both are good cars....and I doubt you'd have any trouble with either. My only caveat on the Saturn is that they are a body-composite plastic....so if you're accident prone, plastic panels aren't the best way to go.

(on the flip side....rust isn't an issue either) lol

Best of luck...let us know what you decide.
V~

 

[pabloback]

over here nissan just came high in the reliability tables
and the focus was european car of the year
why would you want a yank tank anyway?

 

[Dillinger]

I can get a good deal on those particular cars - without giving away too much info about my personal life/work - so that's why they're the choices.

Looks like the Sentra is taking the lead.

I currently have a Prizm - back when it was Geo - about 7 years old now... best car I ever had - I've never had to do anything but upkeep on it. But since they came back under the Chevy banner I'm not sure if they're as good as they used to be.

Thank you for the links and the advice. And please, if anyone has anything else to add - I'm very interested.

 

[kotori]

I currently have a Prizm - back when it was Geo - about 7 years old now... best car I ever had - I've never had to do anything but upkeep on it. But since they came back under the Chevy banner I'm not sure if they're as good as they used to be.

I think (not 100% on this) that under either badge, they were actually built by Toyota--so most likely the quality would be consistant. When you go to the dealer, you can find out who actually built it by looking around at the stickers in the door jambs or wherever--it'll say "Toyo Mfg. Co." if it were Toyota.

 

[Guest]

 

[zantac666]

One thing to do is make sure you feel comfortable in it.

I drive a much older car because i can do the work myself i drive a 1966 pontiac lemans..

I need a car with head room and most new cars i can not get into.

 

[Dillinger]

Yes - my prizm is really a corolla - guess the new one is too.

The focus looks OK - but not great.

 

[riff]

I am a VERY happy VW Jetta owner. I like it now more than when I bought it.

 

[Dillinger]

Any opinion on the other cars, Riff? VW isn't one I can get a discount on?

(Though I have heard very good things about the Jetta.)

 

[Dillinger]

One thing to do is make sure you feel comfortable in it.

I drive a much older car because i can do the work myself i drive a 1966 pontiac lemans..

I need a car with head room and most new cars i can not get into.

Agreed - I'm going to test drive. But I am going with a new small car... good gas mileage...

 

[riff]

VW rocks. It's just a great car. Imagine a Honda marketed to guys (everyone knows Honda is a chick's car.... sort of like Styx was a chick's band)....

ad infinitum....

 

[Tx girl]

Dillenger? I don't know if this helps but i have a Honda Civic, awesome car! actually thats all ive ever had. They are supposed to be the best cars around. I've never had a problem with either of mine

 

[Chuckus]

My choice of the 5 my ratings would be as follows.

1. Sentra
2. Protege
3. Focus
4. Prizm
5. SL2

That's my .02 cents for ya Dillinger.

Nissan has a solid car and so does Mazda, the Ford hasn't been round long enough in the States for me to think too poorly of it, whereas the Prizm I am unsure of (due to my unfamiliarity with the newer model) and I don't have any love loss for Saturns (though some people are very happy with them.....)

 

[Dillinger]

Seems to be still leaning toward the Sentra... which was my gut feeling to start with.

The prizm is tempting mostly because the one I have now has been excellent.

Still some time to decide though... and still have to test drive and check option packages and all that.

 

[Dillinger]

Dillenger? I don't know if this helps but i have a Honda Civic, awesome car! actually thats all ive ever had. They are supposed to be the best cars around. I've never had a problem with either of mine

Thanks. Honda isn't one of the companies I can get a deal with though. I need to pick from those five. Though I think you and riff should have a drag race between his Jetta and your Civic... *grin*

 

[Calamity Jane]

Can't be much help Dilly Bar. I drive a Plymouth Breeze, and they just don't make 'em anymore. It's been an awesome car though, and I'm very thankful I went with the 5 speed option since it has a different engine than the automatic, and more power.

My lil sis drives a saturn that's been pretty good to her.

If I was shopping though, I'd go with the Nissan.

 

[Chuckus]

Can't be much help Dilly Bar. I drive a Plymouth Breeze, and they just don't make 'em anymore. It's been an awesome car though, and I'm very thankful I went with the 5 speed option since it has a different engine than the automatic, and more power.

My lil sis drives a saturn that's been pretty good to her.

If I was shopping though, I'd go with the Nissan.

*Shameless hijack*

pagancowgirl, did you see the pics I put up for you on the thread?

*resume thread, hijacking is over*