What is a good family car?

Question

I just bought a 2007 Chevrolet Aveo, but I am not really happy with it and the way it drives so I am thinking of trading it in. I want a cheap, yet roomy car that drives well and is safe on the highway-please help! Also, any tips on haggling with prices with the car salesman would be so helpful!!! Thanks!

Answer 1

I love my Honda Accord, but don't know if that's what you have in mind.

If you don't like haggling, try your nearest CarMax. I had a good experience there buying my first Accord. No haggling at all, the price is on the window of the car.

Answer 2

I just finished shopping for the car you describe.

Look at the Chevy Impala or the Ford Fusion. Both are nice and roomy, have pretty big trunks and nice designs. Both blow away the Camry in terms of style and roominess. I test drove both, and I think the Impala drives a teensy bit better then the Fusion, but the Fusion feels a little bit sportier. Prices are cheap compared to the Japanese brands for what features you get.

I purchased a Fusion SEL with a V6.

My advice. Go to Edmunds.com and research and then build your car. It will price it out at dealer invoice, MSRP and average selling price. At least you know where to start now in the bargaining. Keep in mind that the dealer might offer you $X over dealer invoice. That's not really his true price. The dealers get hidden rebates called holdbacks. They generally won't bargain on those, but keep it in mind, so you don't pay $800 over invoice thinking the dealer needs to make money too. I was offered both of these cars, in configurations I didn't like, for $250 or less over dealer invoice.

My biggest problem was finding the car I wanted in the color and configuration I wanted. Apparently there's a giant Impala shortage here in California. No dealer had more than 4 on their lot, with almost all being silver.

One last piece of advice. Whatever you look for, if they don't have it, the dealer will want you to let him check around within a 500 mile radius or so. That's fine, but under NO circumstances agree to buy one then and there because you happened to test drive one, but it wasn't configured the way you wanted it. The reason is that the data entered into their computers is not complete. I made this mistake and when the car arrived, it had a spoiler that was not on the description. I didn't really want a spoiler, but took it anyway.

Good luck.

Answer 3

If your looking for a cheap car that is roomy then i suggest you buy a nissan versa,you would really be surprised at the interior room of the versa the leg room is so big comparable to a midsize car and it also has so much space for luggages especially the hatchback version,i had the opportunity to test drive it,i would say that it runs smoothly its like riding a much bigger car,the acceleration with the cvt transmission is lively and very smooth as well ,you hardly feel any shifting compared to an ordinary automatic transmission.It is aslo fuel efficient 29-36 city highway,and the price is very affordable.

Answer 4

No can do. You sort of have to compromise on something.
That said, it depends on what you mean by safe on the highway. There aren't a lot of cars that are more dangerous than the Aveo. Here's my recommendations depending on your criteria:

Cheap, roomy, drives well- Nissan Versa, Hyundai Accent

Roomy, drives well, safe on the highway, not outrageously expensive- Hyundai Sonata, Mitsubishi Galant, VW Jetta, Honda Civic

That's about the best I can give you.

Answer 5

chevy colbalt toyota corrola or honda nething but if your in a budget id say toyota corrola or yaris the yaris is like a smaller camry at a really smaller price