Q. We are having info overload as we research. We've driven a few but nothing blows us away.
We have a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids ages 8 and younger). Car will mainly be used for daily business commute of around 25 miles round-trip with occasional piling in of entire family. We'd prefer gas mileage of 25mph or better that is comfortable for all in the back, leather, moonroof.
Kicking around Honda Accord (hybrid or normal sedan), Hyundai Elantra, Mazda 6.
Any other recommendations?
Thanks.
We have a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids ages 8 and younger). Car will mainly be used for daily business commute of around 25 miles round-trip with occasional piling in of entire family. We'd prefer gas mileage of 25mph or better that is comfortable for all in the back, leather, moonroof.
Kicking around Honda Accord (hybrid or normal sedan), Hyundai Elantra, Mazda 6.
Any other recommendations?
Thanks.
Answer
First, avoid Hybrids. More complex systems, thousands of dollars more to buy for only a few mpg increase, and when the battery fails, it's several thousand to replace. A Prius battery for example is about $4000 to replace, plus labor.
Here's some things to think about.
The Mazda6, Honda accord V6 (the only one worth buying) and the Elantra all use timing belts. Timing belts have to be replaced every 3-5 years at a cost of $800-1500. If a car needs a $1000 repair after just 3-5 years, that's not very reliable.
By comparison, let's look at some alternatives.
For that price range, you can get a 3.6L V6 Dodge Charger that gets 31mpg highway and still has 300hp. Plus it would be far more comfortable for all involved, and more reliable.
You can also get a Ford Fusion with either the 2.5L I4 or the 2.0l ecoboost. Both of them will get better fuel economy than you could want, and both have timing chains that never need replaced. No $1000 repairs every 3-5 years. The 2.5L Fusion gets 22/34mpg, the 2.0L EcoBoost 2.0 gets 22/33. That's just as good as the Accord V6s 21/34, both are slightly cheaper than the V6 Accord, and will be more reliable.
First, avoid Hybrids. More complex systems, thousands of dollars more to buy for only a few mpg increase, and when the battery fails, it's several thousand to replace. A Prius battery for example is about $4000 to replace, plus labor.
Here's some things to think about.
The Mazda6, Honda accord V6 (the only one worth buying) and the Elantra all use timing belts. Timing belts have to be replaced every 3-5 years at a cost of $800-1500. If a car needs a $1000 repair after just 3-5 years, that's not very reliable.
By comparison, let's look at some alternatives.
For that price range, you can get a 3.6L V6 Dodge Charger that gets 31mpg highway and still has 300hp. Plus it would be far more comfortable for all involved, and more reliable.
You can also get a Ford Fusion with either the 2.5L I4 or the 2.0l ecoboost. Both of them will get better fuel economy than you could want, and both have timing chains that never need replaced. No $1000 repairs every 3-5 years. The 2.5L Fusion gets 22/34mpg, the 2.0L EcoBoost 2.0 gets 22/33. That's just as good as the Accord V6s 21/34, both are slightly cheaper than the V6 Accord, and will be more reliable.
Small town info.?
Q. I am in my 30s, single, no children. I would like to move somewhere else in the future. For people living in small towns, tell me why your town is a great place to live and why. I am looking for info that you don't get in books.
Answer
Lawrence, KS
http://www.lawrence.com/
http://www.city-data.com/city/Lawrence-Kansas.html
The "Midwest Oasis." It's between Kansas City & Topeka, home to Haskell Indian Nations University & the University of Kansas.
Population 80,000, including 30,000 KU students (the town dramatically shrinks in the summer when all the students & professors are out-of-town). But there is an amazing sense of community here & feels a lot smaller. Everyone knows everyone.
Downtown, East Lawrence, & Old West Lawrence have the small town feel. West Lawrence is suburbia from hell. It is very possible to never, ever cross over to that side of town because we have a vibrant downtown with retail shops, restaurants (down home & exotic), bars (something for everyone, including Free State Brewery), & small grocery stores (local, organic, & specialty). And there is a great Farmers' Market 9 months of the year. Local food--everything from greens & tofu to elk & buffalo--is big here.
There is an okay bus system and a lot of people walk or bike everywhere. It's a progressive, open minded community. There is a no smoking ban (excluding the Hookah House), gay partner registry, & the city uses hybrid cars.
Because Lawrence was settled by people from Boston (in a successful effort to stop the spread of slavery west) it looks completely different from the rest of the state. There are trees everywhere, a river, a lake, and the town is centered around a giant hill (Mt. Oread) with KU at the top.
Lawrence is the 2nd most educated city in the country (after Boston). That means there are a lot of coffee shops & book stores.
The best jobs to be found are in education (public, Montessori, & Catholic schools), KU, the service industry, & self-employed. Other big employers here are Hallmark cards, the city government, & in-bound call centers (pay great, lousy atmosphere).
It's a magnet here. People move here from little Kansas towns for the quality of living. Or for school. Or for a job. And never leave. Or they do move away. Usually to Portland, OR, or Denver--then move back.
There are a broad spectrum of churches, a synagogue, a Buddhist center, a mosque, & agnostic & atheists groups.
The Downfalls
Spring & Fall are great. Winter is cold (although not like, say, Chicago). Summer is hot.
Cost-of-living is high for midwest towns. (California transplants laugh at this, though.)
It's in the middle of the country. Great for a lot of people. Not so great if want to live close to the ocean.
College kids are a mixed blessing. The annoying ones stick to places you'll never go.
The town is obsessed with basketball. (But also with Barrack Obama.)
The sprawling Westside. Again, easy to pretend it doesn't exist.
Not diverse compared to huge cities. (BUT exceptionally diverse for a town.)
Lawrence, KS
http://www.lawrence.com/
http://www.city-data.com/city/Lawrence-Kansas.html
The "Midwest Oasis." It's between Kansas City & Topeka, home to Haskell Indian Nations University & the University of Kansas.
Population 80,000, including 30,000 KU students (the town dramatically shrinks in the summer when all the students & professors are out-of-town). But there is an amazing sense of community here & feels a lot smaller. Everyone knows everyone.
Downtown, East Lawrence, & Old West Lawrence have the small town feel. West Lawrence is suburbia from hell. It is very possible to never, ever cross over to that side of town because we have a vibrant downtown with retail shops, restaurants (down home & exotic), bars (something for everyone, including Free State Brewery), & small grocery stores (local, organic, & specialty). And there is a great Farmers' Market 9 months of the year. Local food--everything from greens & tofu to elk & buffalo--is big here.
There is an okay bus system and a lot of people walk or bike everywhere. It's a progressive, open minded community. There is a no smoking ban (excluding the Hookah House), gay partner registry, & the city uses hybrid cars.
Because Lawrence was settled by people from Boston (in a successful effort to stop the spread of slavery west) it looks completely different from the rest of the state. There are trees everywhere, a river, a lake, and the town is centered around a giant hill (Mt. Oread) with KU at the top.
Lawrence is the 2nd most educated city in the country (after Boston). That means there are a lot of coffee shops & book stores.
The best jobs to be found are in education (public, Montessori, & Catholic schools), KU, the service industry, & self-employed. Other big employers here are Hallmark cards, the city government, & in-bound call centers (pay great, lousy atmosphere).
It's a magnet here. People move here from little Kansas towns for the quality of living. Or for school. Or for a job. And never leave. Or they do move away. Usually to Portland, OR, or Denver--then move back.
There are a broad spectrum of churches, a synagogue, a Buddhist center, a mosque, & agnostic & atheists groups.
The Downfalls
Spring & Fall are great. Winter is cold (although not like, say, Chicago). Summer is hot.
Cost-of-living is high for midwest towns. (California transplants laugh at this, though.)
It's in the middle of the country. Great for a lot of people. Not so great if want to live close to the ocean.
College kids are a mixed blessing. The annoying ones stick to places you'll never go.
The town is obsessed with basketball. (But also with Barrack Obama.)
The sprawling Westside. Again, easy to pretend it doesn't exist.
Not diverse compared to huge cities. (BUT exceptionally diverse for a town.)
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