From the article: Least Expensive Cars of 2011
I've posted my opinions of the least-expensive cars of 2011; now it's your turn. Have you driven any of these cars? Do you own one? Or have you found another fantastic cheap-car bargain? Tell us your opinion. Share your experience
Cobalt
- I loved my Chevy Colbalt! I leased it for 3 years & received nothing but compliments on it. However mine was a 2005. I was going to buy one but the prices keep going up on them.
- —Guest Bebe
Pontiac G5 / Chevy Cobalt
- Too bad Pontiac got killed off and the price of the Cobalt has slowly risen... Back in 2007, I got a brand new 2007 Pontiac G5 base for just over $14,000. 2.2L 145hp, 155torque, 2-door with a backseat big enough for 2 adults, auto trans, 15" wheels, stereo with MP3 aux jack, power lock/windows/steering, keyless entry. Oh, and did I mention it gets 25/37 mpg?
- —Guest StalePhish
None of these are cheap
- Somehow we've been conned into thinking cars are worth more than $10,000, just like we've been conned into thinking $3 a gallon for gas is cheap. Not all of us are made of money. If the auto makers want to survive, they're going to have to ask for reasonable prices.
- —Guest Jebus!
dacia logan
- what about dacia logan ? a huge succes and a very small price
- —rs5power
Honda Fit error!
- For 2011 the base model Honda Fit DOES indeed offer stability control, cruise, and the USB/iPod interface.
- —Guest Brian
corolla for $16,000
- This is typical of Toyota. They take the chassis of the old Camry,and put the label Corolla on it and raise the price $5000. This is another great reason the Chinese should buy large regional banks and purchase all the closed dealerships and begin putting out the $8000 automobile and trucks.
- —baloney2
Mazda 2, Ford Fiesta
- nano is not a USA/NA car, and would cost over 8000$ in NA/USA. Two of the best cars I could think of that are pretty cheap are the Ford Fiesta and the Mazda 2. I'm pretty srue the fiesta's been out for a while, and the Mazda 2 came out just recently I think. I cannot believe they are not on here (>,
- —Guest Watskeburt!?
In case you do buy a set of wheels!
- This is useful information!It's nice to know what basic features our car come with. That way we know what else we need to add to the equation. The Koreans are still the value leaders but the Japanese are catching up and are still among resale and reliable leaders. The domestics are catching up gradually.
- —Guest Swapnil Thakkar
where is nanno
- where is tata nano..the $2000 car ..chepest in the world
- —Guest lolypop
Great little cheapy
- The Suzuki SX4 is simply a great and utilitarian all weather car. Fun to drive and 4wd. Resale is poor, but warranty is great!
- —Guest HAWAIIAN DON
Smart?
- Not having any kids living at home, and only needing 2 seats, I'd buy a Passsion and go to that guy that puts Hayabusa motors in them and rip up the pavement
- —Phoghat
Subaru Impreza
- I want to second your endorsement of the Subaru Impreza. I live in Minnesota, and I am constantly reminded this time of year how vitally important it is to have all wheel drive, traction control, and stability control in the snow and ice. The Subarus are absolutely sure-footed. And safety is hugely important. And also, this car does reasonably well on gas (for all wheel drive). The controls are simple and exactly where you expect them to be. I test drove one last year. I decided it was worth an extra $2K to get a Forester instead (to sit up a bit higher and have a bit more room for the hounds in the back - my base model came in just a bit high for this list @ $22K.) If I didn't want to spend that, the Impreza would have been an easy second choice. Plenty of power. The ability to handle bicycles and or a canoe on the roof. Solid reliability. You really couldn't go wrong with an Impreza.
- —Guest Sam
Hyundai Sonata
- While my 2009 Sonata is a Limited model, if I was looking for a family sedan under $20,000, I'd go after the the base 2010 model. It gives you a pile of standard equipment: Stability control and traction control, XM radio, ABS, full power equipment, a spacious interior and trunk, great mileage, and a great warranty. Only caveat: don't expect a sports car. The ride (especially on trips) is terrific, but the car is not tuned for sporty handling. But for everyday driving, it gives an awful lot of value, especially someone who is looking for a family sedan. And while the new 2011 model is definitely sexier, the 2010 is still a great car. Right now, Hyundai's offering $2,500 on their remaining 2010's, and if they are like my dealer, you can probably get at least another $1,000 off. You can get an awful lot of darn good car for the money if you're willing to admit that you're not buying a Ferrari.
- —Guest George in Ohio
limited experiences
- I own a (08) Mazda 3. It is a great car to drive, although a bit cramped and not so great on gas mileage. My preference would have been a Cobalt, since I could have gotten one for 3-4k less. But we needed 4 doors and really wanted a manual transmission, narrowing our options. The Focus seemed to have less rear leg room (felt tight to me at 5'9", and since I do ride in the back on occasion, that was important). The biggest issue I have is the gearing (leading to the low mileage). There is no reason to be over 3K RPM at 70MPH. My dad has the same issue with his Pontiac G3, he actually gets better on the hwy in his '05 (V6) Impala. Otherwise, he loves the room, and hasn't complained about the G3 for anything. I haven't driven a current Hyundai, Honda, Toyota or Scion, but the later three are overpriced for the features. The Versa had me reaching for another gear also, even though it has 6. The Elantra's style got ugly, and the Vibe's front door opening was too small.
- —Guest Jeff R.
Nissan Altima
- As I've mentioned before, my 08 Altima 2.5 has been an excellent all around performer with gas mileage similar to the Corolla and those in the compact class. It is larger, more powerful, more comfortable, with a better feature list, and better efficiency in many cases. The list price on a base Altima 2.5 is $19,900 but there is a $1000 rebate right now. If my experience is at all common, they will also knock another $800-$1000 too. At that price ($17,900-$18,100) it would be hard to justify getting less. If a family car is what you need but want something with more performance than a Camry, you are in the Altima's prime demographic. It's worth a test drive.
- —Guest Mike in Minn
Chevy Cobalt & Scion xD
- I drove a Cobalt for about 2 weeks last spring when our Pontiac Vibe got totaled. Best way to describe the Cobalt is "transportation box". Though competent, it was bland and exuded no personality. The trunk was nicely sized, but the opening is really tiny. No inclination whatsoever to buy one. As for the xD, we bought one to replace the Vibe. It's practical and competent, a good value, great on gas, and has personality, but there's some obvious cost-cutting that detracts from the ownership experience. For one, there's no height adjustment for the very high-sitting driver's seat, and I find the seat quite uncomfortable (narrow with large side bolsters). Also, the front wiper has only one intermittent setting, and the back wiper has NONE. Some controls also don't illuminate at night. A couple extra bucks spent by Toyota on these things would have made a big difference. Scion also charges a fortune for accessories like floor mats and cargo covers.
- —Guest ChrisF
