I'm Buying a New Car... What Should I Get?

[Drolefille]

If someone's stalking you like that, they'd be close enough to physically attack you prior to you getting to your car anyway.

Most cars still require a key for ignition, those that don't require that the "key" be IN the car to start it. Remote starters don't let you put the car in gear, just start it up to get the heat or AC going.

Keyless entry also does let you lock your car with the keyfob (mine's part of the key itself.) The only time I can't "beep" my car locked is if a key is IN the ignition. And that's a safety feature more than anything.

Realistically you don't have people hanging out outside your car waiting to dive into it as soon as you unlock it. Practically, most keyless entry systems let you hit the button once to unlock just your door and twice for all doors.

[thetygerlily]

For Nissan's keyless entry, you have to be within a couple feet of the button for it to work. If someone is close enough to you at that point, you have issues regardless.

To start the car, the key has to be in the car. I've had my purse on the passenger seat and behind the driver seat without an issue, but sometimes the car will flash a little signal to say that it can't find the key & you have to move it closer. Once the car is started it's fine.

As for locking the key in- they thought of that, too! It will not lock if the key is inside the car or trunk. It'll throw a few quick beeps at you and refuses to lock or the trunk won't latch. That has saved my keys several times, back when I kept my laptop bag in the trunk (& purse in the laptop bag).

Ditto to Drolefille's comments about opening all the doors- one push to open just one door, two pushes to open all. There's a button on both the driver's side and passenger's side. One push to lock all the doors.

It's pretty much awesome

[AOII Angel]

I agree with Drole and Lily...I LOVE my keyless entry on my Prius and wish my Mercedes had it. On the Prius, you can actually program your doors to unlock in any way you'd like. I have them set to all unlock when I reach for my door handle. I don't even have to dig my keys out of my purse. I could have it set to just unlock my door, but I like it to unlock them all. I can also lock all my doors by pushing a button on the door.

I just push a button to start the car. If you take the key out of the car, the car beeps at you. If you try to drive away without the key, it will stop and turn off. You can't steal the car if you don't have the key. It also won't let me lock my key in the car bc it'll beep at me to alert me that the key is inside the car.

[thetygerlily]

Ooh side note about the Prius- I originally really wanted a Prius, until I sat in one. The way they accomodate a hatchback with a car shape is by having a smaller window under the standard rear windshield- I didn't like having that separated. It doesn't bother most people, but was enough for me to decide against it. It's one of the most popular cars in this region, in part because Microsoft's dozens (hundreds?) of corporate shuttles are all Priuses. They are everywhere!

[aephi alum]

My husband drives a Nissan Murano, and I've got to agree, the keyless entry is a nice feature. If you've programmed settings for your driver's seat and wing mirrors, it'll adjust those too when you unlock the car.

The funny thing about my husband's car is that, if I unlock it from the passenger side, it resets the driver's seat to my settings and my husband has to get into the car and turn it on before he can reset it for himself. Since he's 9" taller and quite a bit heavier than I am, this is a challenge, to say the least.

Nissans are nice cars, but my vote is still for the Honda. Put it this way: If I were preffing Nissan and Honda, I'd list Honda first on my pref card, but I wouldn't hesitate to list Nissan second. (Ugh, I have GOT to stay out of the rush threads. )

[thetygerlily]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

Nissans are nice cars, but my vote is still for the Honda. Put it this way: If I were preffing Nissan and Honda, I'd list Honda first on my pref card, but I wouldn't hesitate to list Nissan second. (Ugh, I have GOT to stay out of the rush threads. )

We REALLY need to get "Like" buttons here on GC. Darn you Facebook for changing the way we read and respond to everything we see!

[excelblue]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

I like the look of the Honda Fit… is it spacious? How is the trunk room?

If you need to ask this question, you need to head to the dealership and see for yourself. Cars are a big ticket item, and unlike buying items, you can shamelessly walk into a dealership, ask to be shown around, and then walk out without any commitment. For all practical purposes, the salesmen are not human; they are trained to manipulate you as much as possible while talking to you.

Originally Posted by ASTalumna0

I had also been recommended VWs previously.. the Jetta was suggested to me by someone, but I know nothing about their longevity or the frequency of needed repairs.

Compared to Japanese cars, German cars need much more maintenance. This is especially true of the Jetta. However, if you get the Jetta TDI, which has the diesel engine, it's gonna last you a long time. The torque is also excellent for getting you out of the snow.

[sanjiyan69]

Originally Posted by excelblue

If you need to ask this question, you need to head to the dealership and see for yourself. Cars are a big ticket item, and unlike buying items, you can shamelessly walk into a dealership, ask to be shown around, and then walk out without any commitment. For all practical purposes, the salesmen are not human; they are trained to manipulate you as much as possible while talking to you.



Compared to Japanese cars, German cars need much more maintenance. This is especially true of the Jetta. However, if you get the Jetta TDI, which has the diesel engine, it's gonna last you a long time. The torque is also excellent for getting you out of the snow.

I agree with excelblue on visiting the dealership. We can tell you all the stuff you want but it is you that is going to be driving the car. So go test drive or even just sit in the car to find out which one best fits you. Before we bought the Honda Fit, we tested out civic, accord, toyota corolla, camry, and matrix before finally settling on the Fit.

with VW, I've heard that they are prone with electrical issues. TDI will last a long time and has excellent power, but I'm just too paranoid about the non-engine stuff. That's just me though.

Do whatever you want

[Gusteau]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

Nissans are nice cars, but my vote is still for the Honda. Put it this way: If I were preffing Nissan and Honda, I'd list Honda first on my pref card, but I wouldn't hesitate to list Nissan second. (Ugh, I have GOT to stay out of the rush threads. )

Bahahaha, well I would suicide Nissan. (Remind me to never use car codes in my rush thread, you'll all know that Delta Chi is Nissan lol)

@Lily, I second aephialum on the Murano, I love it. My dad drives a 2009 (or maybe newer?) Rouge which I also love. It handles really well for a crossover sized car and the gas mileage is more comparable to a smaller car (which is why my cheap-o day bought it). When it's time for a new car, I'd like to get a Rouge.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by excelblue

If you need to ask this question, you need to head to the dealership and see for yourself.

Oh, trust me, I know this. I was just curious. I just didn't even know that the Honda Fit existed until after someone mentioned it here.

But anyway... I went to dealerships this weekend, searched high and low, and finally decided on the..........





































































Honda Civic coupe!

I'm so happy I was able to get my first choice, I love the colors, and I think it's a perfect fit!

(Sorry, I'm clearly addicted to recruitment threads..)

I sat in a bunch of other cars, drove a few, and none could match the feel of the Civic for me. Because the dealership I got it from was so small, they actually had my exact car on a different lot, so I'll be picking it up on Wednesday. So excited!

[thetygerlily]

Congratulations to you and Honda Civic! It sounds like you just found the right car for you.

Is anyone else just dying to know the other cars she looked at? I mean, maybe the other close ones were the Nissans Gusteau & I were rooting for, or AOII Angel's Prius...



On a less silly note, it's pretty normal to get a car from a different dealership- especially when you know what features you do & don't want. Both our current cars came from different dealership than where we purchased.

[sanjiyan69]

Originally Posted by thetygerlily

Congratulations to you and Honda Civic! It sounds like you just found the right car for you.

Is anyone else just dying to know the other cars she looked at? I mean, maybe the other close ones were the Nissans Gusteau & I were rooting for, or AOII Angel's Prius...



On a less silky note, it's pretty normal to get a car from a different dealership- especially when you know what features you do & don't want. Both our current cars came from different dealership than where we purchased.

Our Honda Fit Sport came from some dealership in OH when we lived in MI.

I wonder if the OP test drove a Civic SI...

[sceniczip]

yay for the civic!

[aephi alum]

Congratulations on the new wheels!

[Gusteau]

Originally Posted by thetygerlily

Is anyone else just dying to know the other cars she looked at? I mean, maybe the other close ones were the Nissans Gusteau & I were rooting for, or AOII Angel's Prius...

I know, right? I'm hoping we at least made it to pref, lol.

Anyway, I'm glad you found your home!

/overplayed cheesy recruitment joke