Rep Power: 413

I know you guys get on here and flame for car choices but my fiance is getting a new car sometime soon and need help picking one.
Honda Element - nice engine, lots of room, but expensive
Honda Civic - she doesn't like that it sits so low, kinda expensive to others in its class, good reliability/resale
Nissan Sentra - Rides high, good reliability/resale, cheap price
Pontiac Vibe - Looks like a pontiac with a toyota heart, lacks some refinement, but cheaper than toyota matrix
Suzuki Aerio - rides high, lacks refinement, not sure on Suzuki reliability, cheap price
Toyota Echo - nothing in it except an engine, really small, good reliability, cheap price

Please give me good info/opinions, just don't spout out the normal ****. I am kinda leaning towards the sentra since it rides high and has good reliability. I don't like the look of it but hey it isn't my car.

I guess i should mention that we want to try to keep it around or under 16k because her dad is buying it. He won't buy used cars or American cars like the focus/cavalier/sunfire/etc. I know the suzuki and vibe are somewhat american but they are powered by import engines.

 
Rep Power: 414

I like the Honda Element if she is going to be carrying a lot of stuff. But have you thought about an Altima?

 
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I'd suggest the Sentra as a first choice (it's cheap) except I'm not sure about the gas mileage. I thought they had bad mileage..[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/IMG]....

Well, pretty much out of all the choices, the Civic would be the best, if you didn't pick the Sentra. Just try to find a low-mileage Civic, at a good price. I'd suggest a 6th Gen one.

 
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I would go for either the Element or the Vibe. Both ride higher than the Civic. Both have more room. Both have pretty good styling. Unique at least. The Element is rather new, so that's why it's expensive. The Vibe looks nice though. You get Japanese reliability for cheap since it has Toyota's engine. Hmm... Yeah, Vibe. The Element is too expensive right now. Wait a year and get a used one and that might help with the price.

 
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I actually like the Vibes they are pretty fast in GT format and look pretty cool

 
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I don't know about some of those, but I'd say the Sentra or the Civic. Both are pretty reliable but the Civic has way better gas mileage. I think the sentra is in the mid 20's while the civic is in the mid 30's. I got 42mpg once

As far as the Echo though. I know this girl that has one and she has nothing good to say about it. She hates driving it on the highway too because it's a bitch. I've never driven it, I'm just saying what I've heard from her.

 
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Looks like you answered your own question. Go with the Sentra.

 
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I wouldnt get the sentra, not a big fan of the style but the Vibe is nice and the Civic of course

 
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can't go wrong with nissan

 
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if shes planning on keeping it for a while...then go with a Honda...Any honda...
if not the Sentra is fine...[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-puke.gif[/IMG]

 
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My moms got a Vibe and it's pretty cool. I like it. The Element is kinda ugly and expensive, but it's really versatile and it's Honda. Sentra R is cool, dated styling though. Aerio=[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-puke.gif[/IMG]. Echo=[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-puke.gif[/IMG]

 
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I would pick the civic or the sentra....
but that's just me

 
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from several quality reports and my personal experience, yes you can.

 
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haha at the post above, the sentra is a pretty good car roomy too, my friend got his when it first came out hasn't had problems with it and looks good too.

 
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Sentra is ok, but if you're going for a compact why not get a Civic? I actually feel lower in my friend's 01 Sentra than in my Civic so I don't understand what you mean. If you want to ride high for some odd reason, I'd get the Element even though I don't like the styling.

 
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That's the same impression I got.

 
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I would add Corolla to your list.

I was thinking of the Pontiac Vibe myself. Actually, I believe the MSRP is higher than the Matrix because it is better equipped, but that rebates will bring the price down to a little below the Matrix. I think it is in slightly higher price category than Corolla or Civic.

I guess maybe Corolla or Civic would be the best bet based on that list.

 
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sounds like you should be looking at a hyundai or some crap like that.

 
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Get a Altima

 
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sentra or vibe

 
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make sure u stay away from the echo, is is just extrmely fugly. and do not get a kia/hyundai/suzuki, too cheao not reliable. sentra isnt bad, i like the vibe too

 
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I agree that Corolla should be on the list - the Corolla S is around $16K and has lots of options, rock-solid reliability and doesn't look too shabby. If not Corolla, I would go Civic or possibly Accord DX - I've seen places around Baltimore with '03 DXs under $16K.

 
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Civic or Sentra get my vote ..

But just for an alternative, what about a VW like the Jetta or even the Passat? Or perhaps a Subaru WRX, depending on the price? Both have been out for a while and you could probably find a nice one used for around the same price. Both are, from what I've heard, quite reliable and perform rather well.

Just some ideas, but you can never go wrong with Honda ...

 
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i really like the styling of the matrix, why not the matrix? it's the sister to the vibe...?

and it's got about the same features as the vibe, no?

 
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Thanks guys for your help. to address some of your questions/opinions.
He won't buys used cars so used cars are out of the question.
I don't think he would go for VW because they can get kinda pricey with options and they tend to have mechanical/electrical problems.
I thought of the corolla but we test drove that and she didn't like it.
I thought of the base altimas and accords, but you can get all the features they dont have in higher end sub compact/compact cars and they might be expensive.
I know the matrix is the sister to the vibe, but the vibe would be cheaper because it is considered an American car. Granted it won't have the resale value the matrix does, but it is the same car.
I wouldn't personaly buy a kia/hyundai/suzuki but she likes the Aerio for some reason, that is why i brought it up.
she likes the styling of the echo and the ride height but there aren't any amenaties in it and her dad might not get it for her, same thing with the element.
thanks for all your opinions. Keep them coming if you have any more.