I need your help OPPO, my cousin needs a car and I'm trying to help her find a reliable daily

"Captain of the Enterprise" (justanotherdayinparadise)
12/20/2016 at 16:15 • Filed to: Car Shopping, Advice

She has an 11 mile commute and would like a smaller car. She currently rides a motorcycle every day but has decided she needs a car for a lot of the year.

Her zip code is 95018 (Felton, California) but she is willing to drive a little bit to find the right car.

She wanted a FIAT 500 but her partner doesn’t want her to get it. Then she found a 2012 Fiesta with a manual transmission (she can drive stick), but her friends are telling her not to buy it because they have a lot of problems.

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She is willing to either buy a older used car for about $2000 or she got approved for a $7700 bank loan but the car has to:

be newer than 2010

have less than 80,000 miles

She isn’t really into cars and her main requirement is that it be reliable and cheap to fix. She also likes hatchbacks.

I would recommend a Corolla but they don’t seem to exist within the limitations for the more expensive option.

I found this Versa but they seem to have iffy reviews

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I’m kind of struggling with what to tell her and she hates car shopping as it is. I was hoping you could help me help her. I’m also hesitating about giving her advice because I don’t want her to get a lemon.

DISCUSSION (39)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 16:17

Mitsubishi Mirage! Depreciate like crazy, get killer gas mileage, have a long warranty, are dirt cheap, come in cool colors, etc.

Captain of the Enterprise > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
12/20/2016 at 16:19

Are they reliable though?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 16:22

Haven’t heard of any problems with them, but if the 10 year/120k mile warranty is transferrable it shouldn’t matter all that much.

jimz > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 16:22

Fiestas are fine, the over-arching problem with them is the DPS6 automatic transmission which that one doesn’t have. the only warranty history it has is a couple of dealer visits to get SYNC reset, and the door latch recall.

my sister has a 2012 with about as many miles and even with the DPS6 it hasn’t given her any trouble.

Chasaboo > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 16:24

If there was ever someone in need of a Honda Fit, it’s her.

Captain of the Enterprise > jimz
12/20/2016 at 16:26

cool, good to know

Captain of the Enterprise > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
12/20/2016 at 16:26

thats true

gmctavish needs more space > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 16:27

The Fiesta over the Versa for sure, because of what JimZ said, and also because those Versas seem to fall apart. We have two at work, mechanically they’re fine, but trim pieces keep breaking, door handles breaking, weatherstripping falling off, hatch release buttons failing....

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 16:28

The Fiesta with a stick seems fine, I was under the impression only the auto had issues. Theyre good little cars and a lot less miserable than what some people are suggesting (looking at you Mirage).

Arrivederci > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 16:28

How about this used 2013 Focus SE ?

In case that link doesn’t work (my AutoTrader ones don’t always seem to), here’s their AT Car ID AT-19FF7EF6

Within 50 miles of her there isn’t a lot in her range. I also found a 2012 Yaris LE and a Nissan Leaf, but I’d take the Focus over either of those.

CalzoneGolem > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 16:28

Kia Soul.

S65 > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 16:29

What motorcycle

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 16:31

Honda Fit. Reasonably fun, reliable, practical

http://modesto.craigslist.org/cto/5924882963.html

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/ctd/5885663331.html (can the $2,000 be used with the $7,700?)

Or if cash - Focus

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/5921288373.html

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/5922689696.html

Arrivederci > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 16:31

Also, here’s a 2012 Mazda6i with only 36k miles . AT Car ID AT-1A266F87

And a 2013 Kia Soul . AT Car ID AT-1A989D67

shop-teacher > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 16:32

As others have said, the only big Fiesta problems I’ve heard of are with the dual clutch automatics. I think that a manual Fiesta would be a good car for somebody in her situation.

Captain of the Enterprise > CalzoneGolem
12/20/2016 at 16:34

there is this one https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/5876732766.html

Captain of the Enterprise > S65
12/20/2016 at 16:36

Silver Yamaha V Star

Captain of the Enterprise > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
12/20/2016 at 16:37

I don’t think the 2,000 can be used with it good ideas though thanks!

Captain of the Enterprise > Arrivederci
12/20/2016 at 16:38

I did see the Mazda, the Soul looks pretty good as well.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Chasaboo
12/20/2016 at 16:39

I came to recommend this, too. My wife had one when we started dating, and it’s surprisingly fun to drive! On top of that, you will be amazed with how much stuff you can throw into this thing when you fold the rear seats completely flat .

Don’t want to fold the seats down? The seat bottoms flip up for a completely flat loading floor in the back seat!

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 16:44

Then haggle!

For some reason I thought the only real complaints about ford fiestas and focuses had to do with the auto trans but I’m not that in the know.

Captain of the Enterprise > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
12/20/2016 at 16:46

I’m not seeing too much aside from the auto but her friends are telling her not to.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 16:51

What’s wrong with the Fiestas? Only issues I have heard about is the automatic transmission which doesn’t really matter if she knows how to drive a manual.

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 16:59

Kinja'd!!!

http://www.baycitymotors.net/ JTKDE3B76A0307911

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 16:59

the auto is trash, they’re fine otherwise.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 17:03

The manual Fiesta is fine reliability wise, it’s the DCT one that has all the problems.

Bytemite > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 17:03

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/5915506815.html

Here’s a good deal on a Mazda2. She can get it and have tons of fun tearing up hwy 9 and bear creek.

Captain of the Enterprise > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
12/20/2016 at 17:08

Thanks that’s good to know, I’m starting to think I should just recommend the fiesta

Captain of the Enterprise > Bytemite
12/20/2016 at 17:08

It’s got too many miles but I did find this automatic one. https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/5926616402.html

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 17:11

Bigger than she intended but the fusion is an amazingly reliable car and meets the requirements (just barely on mileage, but they’ve got tons of life left):

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/5904520810.html

http://stockton.craigslist.org/cto/5890250910.html

Captain of the Enterprise > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
12/20/2016 at 17:13

They look pretty good.

TFSIVTEC drivesavolvo > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 17:16

Her friends are right about (Automatic) Fiestas having problems but getting a manual solves all of those, and as in problems, fords dual clutch “powershift” automatic just loves to eat clutch assemblies

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 17:30

The standard one is supposedly nearly as fun as the ST, so it’s a solid, slower, likely more reliable choice.

smobgirl > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 17:51

Even someone who doesn’t care at all for cars will hate the Versa. Just don’t do it.

Fiesta should be fine with a manual.

And (not that this is any of my business) any partner who tries to control what I drive better have a financial stake in the matter or we’re through.

Captain of the Enterprise > smobgirl
12/20/2016 at 18:10

They are married so she does have a financial stake

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 18:13

Late 3rd-gen or 4th-gen Hyundai Accent? They are quite reliable, cheap to fix if things go wrong and can be had for decent prices with low miles?

smobgirl > Captain of the Enterprise
12/20/2016 at 21:21

Fair enough!! Fiat is out then. :)

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Captain of the Enterprise
12/21/2016 at 11:56

It’s a lot more and a lot nicer of a vehicle than what you get in a fiesta. I mean if she just likes hatch backs, it is what it is and the fusion is out - but it’s a much nicer experience.

CalzoneGolem > Captain of the Enterprise
12/21/2016 at 12:05

This is the same model we have except that one is manual. 8/10 would purchase again.