Hey Guys.

So I'm going to start working a great job in January after I graduate and would like to reward myself with an new car. I'm currently driving around a 2002 Camry SE that has suited me well over the past 5 years but its time to make an upgrade. Here are some things I'm looking for

-My budget is around $26k, would like to spend less

-Four door sedan is preferable

-Reliability and good gas mileage important factors

-I like so extra cool stuff like GPS, moonroof, heated seats, and other fun accessories

-Appearance of car is important but not thaaaat important

-No real preference on make, (don't need another toyota if other make has better options)

Nothing really else. I'll be using it mainly for driving on highway to my job with not too much city driving. If you guys could point me in the right direction of a car that fits this criteria I would be very grateful!

Well at least tell us what a good job is to you (Audi A6)

Keep the Camry. Save up money for a year or two. Unless you're a trust fund baby. Lifestyle creep is the surest way to stay poor.

This is a terrible place to get car advice. Terms like "girl's car" get thrown around way too much.

Get the new Mazda6 it's the same category as the Camry but more fun to drive and a hell of a lot more stylish and very upscale inside.

www.CarAndDriver.com has good reviews.

If you REALLY need a new car, get another camry... you could do much worse.

:/Thread

income?

Total girl's car.

Why is is a 4 door sedan preferable? Are you planning kids anytime soon?

I'm a bit partial given it's what I drive, but I'd suggest a 2010+ Mitsubishi Eclipse. They are a great looking car, fun to drive and pretty damn cheap for a "sports" car.

nice preemptive but the mazda6 is a girl's car. better get a brand new mustang gt vrooooooooooooom

Kia optima

It's going to be hard to find a car with more features for the price

if you want a good car youd have to give more information like age? single? use?

How about upgrading, but with a year or two-old car. A few years ago I picked up a top-of-the line Grand Touring Mazda6 with 15k on it, one year old, for under $20k -- that's $6k in the bank. Let someone else take that huge early year or two depreciation. Since Mazda doesn't have a luxury brand (Toyota/Lexus) they don't hold back with features and technology. Also recently rated one of top 5 brands for reliability. If you want to go more sporty and get better mileage, look at the sportiest Mazda3 with their newer skyactive high-mileage motor.

They may not hold back with features and technology, but they certainly hold back in quality... In my city, the roads are full of rusted Mazda's that are only a couple years old. Do a quick google search on "Mazda rust".

Hyundai Sonata. Nice looking sled for the money.

2nd the Sonata, they're pretty nice and have decent feature set, warranty

But if you've got an 11-year-old ride and it's still serving you well, you might reconsider. A new car is nice for a little while but it fades before long, but you're adding a $300+ monthly bill and the added insurance for years. Even an extra 2 years with what you've got could be a sizable swing in your overall financial position. Why not put all of those highway miles on this one until you run it into the ground.

Don't know what your savings and assets look like or what condition the car is in. Or your income or debt, etc. You can find decent enough new rides in your price range for sure but if you're young, every month you can avoid a car payment is a win.

I have an '04 Mazda 6 with 91k on it and it runs like a champ. The body is in great condition as well.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using 2+2 Forums

Do you understand why rust would not be a problem in San Diego?

+1

Hang onto your old car at least until you get through the probationary period at your new job.

You might not make it. You may wind up hating this job. Saddling yourself with a major expense at this point is unwise.

BTW, congrats on the new job.

What's the job?

yeah bro go get an eclipse! maybe put those cool eye lashes on the front headlights too while you're at it...

lol....

yeah, do tell? and congrats on whatever it is

Do not borrow money on a car, only pay cash.

Also, eclispe seems like a good suggestion. What do you want a boring 4 door sedan for?

Mitsu reliability is terrible, they're all but extinct in this country. For the love of Christ don't get an Eclipse. They aren't even a good sporty FWD car and haven't been since the second generation. If you're going that route a Civic SI would be a hell of a lot better.(or a Sentra SE-R, or a Mazdaspeed 3, or literally any of its competitors)

Dropping 26k on a car when you can easily get sub 3% rates is also not great.

I'd go with a 2002 Camry SE. Maybe install a moonroof.