thinking about buying a temporary car

I am thinking about buying a smaller car to drive for a year or so until
the Prius price-gouging and shortages stop. My criteria is I want decent
gas mileage, it MUST be a car (no SUV's or trucks), it should handle OK, and
I want side-curtain airbags or side airbags in the front seat (thorax bags
like on the Honda Civic don't count).

So far, I have found these cars that would fit the bill:

- Toyota Corolla
- Toyota Matrix
- Ford Focus hatchback

Car Talk says the Toyota Matrix is about 2,000 dollars more than a Focus
station wagon. I've priced one out, with all the options I'd want, to
around $17,500. I believe a Ford Focus would start around 14,500 with the
options I'd want (namely, the side airbag). The Corolla is probably
similarly priced.

Any other suggestions as to what cars to look at? Any commenst on the
reliability of the above cars?

In article >, Magnulus wrote:
> - Toyota Corolla
> - Toyota Matrix
> - Ford Focus hatchback

Get a focus then do the V8 conversion Muhahahha!

In article >,
Magnulus > wrote:
> I am thinking about buying a smaller car to drive for a year or so until
>the Prius price-gouging and shortages stop. My criteria is I want decent
>gas mileage, it MUST be a car (no SUV's or trucks), it should handle OK, and
>I want side-curtain airbags or side airbags in the front seat (thorax bags
>like on the Honda Civic don't count).

If it is a new car, it will be costly to own it for a year or so, since
you'll have to buy it from a dealer, but you'll get at most private party
price when you sell it (not to mention paying sales tax that you won't
recover).

Buying an inexpensive used car from a private party would significantly
reduce these transaction costs, but you are unlikely to find the side
airbags that you want in an inexpensive used car, particularly the smaller
(cheaper) ones that get better fuel economy that you also want.

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------------------------------------------------------------------------
Timothy J. Lee
Unsolicited bulk or commercial email is not welcome.
No warranty of any kind is provided with this message.

Around 2/6/2005 8:48 PM, Magnulus wrote:

> Any other suggestions as to what cars to look at?

I think this might suit your needs:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=4524696067




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Magnulus wrote:
> I am thinking about buying a smaller car to drive for a year or so until
> the Prius price-gouging and shortages stop. My criteria is I want decent
> gas mileage, it MUST be a car (no SUV's or trucks), it should handle OK, and
> I want side-curtain airbags or side airbags in the front seat (thorax bags
> like on the Honda Civic don't count).
>
> So far, I have found these cars that would fit the bill:
>
> - Toyota Corolla
> - Toyota Matrix
> - Ford Focus hatchback
>
> Car Talk says the Toyota Matrix is about 2,000 dollars more than a Focus
> station wagon. I've priced one out, with all the options I'd want, to
> around $17,500. I believe a Ford Focus would start around 14,500 with the
> options I'd want (namely, the side airbag). The Corolla is probably
> similarly priced.
>
> Any other suggestions as to what cars to look at? Any commenst on the
> reliability of the above cars?
>

Mazda 3?

"Magnulus" wrote:
> So far, I have found these cars that would fit the bill:
>
> - Toyota Corolla
> - Toyota Matrix
> - Ford Focus hatchback
>
These all sound like permanent cars to me. What exactly would a temporary car be? One that
dissolved when exposed to water? One made of cardboard?

"Timothy J. Lee" > wrote in message
...
> If it is a new car, it will be costly to own it for a year or so, since
> you'll have to buy it from a dealer, but you'll get at most private party
> price when you sell it (not to mention paying sales tax that you won't
> recover).

What kind of value would I get on trading it in to a dealer after a year
or two (assuming it is in good condition)? Less than blue book?

For me, the side curtain airbags are a big priority- a must. ABS is
also a must.
Stability control/traction control is something I'd like, but could do
without, I suppose.. After that, comes considerations like gas mileage and
other features.

Money is not too big of an issue, though it is AN issue. Otherwise I'd
plonk down 28,000-32,000 dollars for a 2004 Prius with 30,000 miles. But
hey, that's price gouging and I'd feel extremely ripped off at that price
(too bad some other people don't see it that way- what kid of idiot pays
that much for a non-luxury car? I'm all for saving the planet, but that's
ridiculous. If they wanted to really save the planet, they could start by
driving less... Our family- my mom, dad, and me, have been driving alot
less in the past years or so- I suddenly realized everything on the other
side of town isn't worth going to, the stores like CompUSA never have
anything I need. So maybe a hybrid isn't that wise an investment- yet).

OK, lastly... how does buying a car for a year compare to LEASING then,
if you consider buying a car only for a year a bad idea? My dad says
leasing is stupid, even if you only own the car for a year.

"C.H." > wrote in message
news
>
> Why does it have to have curtain airbags? Do you crash often enough for it
> to matter? And if you do, again, why would you want a new car?
>

Is living important to you? It is to me. I don't know, maybe it's the
reptilian brain talking, but I want to be as safe as possible. I happen
not to be a very religious person. If I die, I have my doubts that Jeebus
is going to be waiting for me to take me into the perley gates. Maybe I'll
just turn into worm food- I really don't know. I'd like to find out later
rather than sooner, if possible (heck, I cannot even donate my organs, since
I was "exposed" to Mad Cow Disease in UK in 1988-1991). And you know, odds
are, you get into that kind of accident, you might live, only you'll be a
near-vegetable. IMO, that's worse than dying. Our Fearless Leader will
make sure nobody wil unplug you and violate your "right to life", no matter
how much you mumble or blink, and he'll cap the lawsuit you can file against
that drunk driver who slammed into your car, so there.

Sure, it's a remote risk, getting seriously hurt in a car accident-
relatively. But it's one of the biggest risks Americans take, next to
lighting up a Camel and eating one Big Mac too many.

My desire for side airbags is no more ridiculous than Bubba wanting a hemi
or duallies, right? Heck, maybe it even makes more sense.

Magnulus wrote:

> "C.H." > wrote in message
> news >
>>Why does it have to have curtain airbags? Do you crash often enough for it
>>to matter? And if you do, again, why would you want a new car?
>>
>
>
> Is living important to you? It is to me. I don't know, maybe it's the
> reptilian brain talking, but I want to be as safe as possible. I happen
> not to be a very religious person. If I die, I have my doubts that Jeebus
> is going to be waiting for me to take me into the perley gates. Maybe I'll
> just turn into worm food- I really don't know. I'd like to find out later
> rather than sooner, if possible (heck, I cannot even donate my organs, since
> I was "exposed" to Mad Cow Disease in UK in 1988-1991). And you know, odds
> are, you get into that kind of accident, you might live, only you'll be a
> near-vegetable. IMO, that's worse than dying. Our Fearless Leader will
> make sure nobody wil unplug you and violate your "right to life", no matter
> how much you mumble or blink, and he'll cap the lawsuit you can file against
> that drunk driver who slammed into your car, so there.
>
> Sure, it's a remote risk, getting seriously hurt in a car accident-
> relatively. But it's one of the biggest risks Americans take, next to
> lighting up a Camel and eating one Big Mac too many.
>
> My desire for side airbags is no more ridiculous than Bubba wanting a hemi
> or duallies, right? Heck, maybe it even makes more sense.
>
>

Personally, I think in terms of safety, a day spent at Bondurant or Skip
Barber probably pays off better than any number of airbags. The better
news is it's portable from car to car.

nate


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"Magnulus" > wrote in message
.. .
>
> "Timothy J. Lee" > wrote in message
> ...
>> If it is a new car, it will be costly to own it for a year or so, since
>> you'll have to buy it from a dealer, but you'll get at most private party
>> price when you sell it (not to mention paying sales tax that you won't
>> recover).
>
> What kind of value would I get on trading it in to a dealer after a year
> or two (assuming it is in good condition)? Less than blue book?

Awful, if you want a temporary car, best bet is to find something used with
the features you want (apparently just curtain airbags)

> For me, the side curtain airbags are a big priority- a must.

I've never seen this as someone's #1 criteria when buying a car.

> Stability control/traction control is something I'd like, but could do
> without, I suppose..

Because heaven forbid you have technology that might help you avoid the
collision in the first place, because you want to use those curtain airbags.
Any statistics that those damn bags will severely decrease your chance of
dieing?

> After that, comes considerations like gas mileage and
> other features.
>
> Money is not too big of an issue, though it is AN issue.

For a temporary car I don't understand why you'd want to waste money. I'd
try to spend as little as I could.

> OK, lastly... how does buying a car for a year compare to LEASING then,
> if you consider buying a car only for a year a bad idea? My dad says
> leasing is stupid, even if you only own the car for a year.

I thinking leasing is better than buying for a new car for 1 year. I'd do
neither and buy a used car.