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Need some advice on car shopping

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  • Need some advice on car shopping

    Alright, so here is the situation. My CooperS has served me amazingly for the past 2 years and I have made it look incredible through the knowledge I have gained on this forum. However, my recent switch of colleges has caused my mom to grow weary of the car she originally bought for me. A little more room than a MINI never hurt either.

    I will be going to SUNY Geneseo in the winter and my mom wants me to have a car that handles well in the snow and will not break down as the repair shops up there are far and few between. So, she drove me over to our local Honda dealership and we test drove some cars.

    The first was a Crystal Black Pearl Honda Accord Coupe. Man, was thing a monster with 270 hp. You stepped on the gas and this thing WENT! The problem is that it is $30,000 before taxes.

    The second car was a Honda Civic. This drove very nicely and even with 144 hp, this picked up very nicely. Talking with the salesman, he said that Civics handle better in the snow due to their smaller size and better trun radius. This car is only $20,000 before taxes.

    Now, we are hoping and currently in a back-and-forth conversation with the manager at the dealership over the turn-in price. My mom wants $18,000 so that she can pay off what is left on the MINI and then finance another $17,000 on the Civic so that her monthly bill never changes. Yes, my mom is just about the most generous person you will ever meet and I am so grateful she loves so much as to do this.

    Now the problem. This Accord Coupe is so slick and amazing that I drool when I look at it. But the Civic is more fuel efficient and cheaper. I need some help here because my mom says that this will be the car that will be with me for many years to come. I thought that with the CooperS but the college situation changed from commuting to NYC to dorming upstate. She is also willing to break her own back to do what makes me happy and that is why I constantly feel bad about the CooperS. I feel a little guilty no matter what route I go because she has to now pay for college. I was in a free-program called Macaulay Honors College at CCNY but lack of a true campus and a social life (due to having my parents drive me there and back) convinced them and me that we needed to switch. So, I feel bad enough now that she has to pay $80,000 for college when she kills herself to make it through day by day. Anyway, now that I have ranted enough, I need some input.

    I need some help here in how to proceed with the situation. If she says to go with the Accord (because even she loves the car) do I say yes? Or do I go with the Civic? I am leaning heavily towards Civic because of my guilt and my mom not accpting any help financially from me. YOu guys seem like a good group of people. I need some help either confirming my decision or going the other route. Pleas help!!!!
    Tedrow's Detailing
    845-642-1698
    Treat Yourself to that New Car Feeling

  • #2
    Re: Need some advice on car shopping

    I can't find the videos but the mini is awesome in the Snow. I've seen 1 hours shows showcasing it's incredible abilities in the snow.

    The Civic sounds the most sensible. I like the looks and roominess of the Accords. Given the financial situation I'd say go with the Civic. I'd personally be pushing to keep the Mini Cooper, but mothers know best :-)

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    • #3
      Re: Need some advice on car shopping

      Not sure why a Civic would do better than a Mini in the snow...

      But certainly nothing wrong with a Civic. You may do better saying what you want. X monthly payment for X months... let them play with the prices to get there.

      Personally.... I say look for an Impreza...
      2017 Subaru WRX Premium - WR Blue

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      • #4
        Re: Need some advice on car shopping

        The tires on the MINI are sports tires and even the salesman told us that MINIs are not known to handle well in the snow.
        Tedrow's Detailing
        845-642-1698
        Treat Yourself to that New Car Feeling

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        • #5
          Re: Need some advice on car shopping

          Originally posted by coopers23 View Post
          The tires on the MINI are sports tires and even the salesman told us that MINIs are not known to handle well in the snow.
          Then just get snow tires... not a problem there...

          I too don't see how the Civic is better than a Mini in the snow.
          My sister owns an 07 Civic EX coupe. While it's not the worst car in the snow, it's not the best neither.
          Up here in Quebec, we NEED snow tires in winter, it is not even an option. And since last year, it's now the law from Dec. 15th to March 15th.

          If nothing is wrong with the Mini, I'd keep it for another couple of years.

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          • #6
            Re: Need some advice on car shopping

            4 tires and some cheap rims cost less than $20,000.
            2017 Subaru WRX Premium - WR Blue

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            • #7
              Re: Need some advice on car shopping

              Originally posted by coopers23 View Post
              The tires on the MINI are sports tires and even the salesman told us that MINIs are not known to handle well in the snow.
              You can buy REALLY GOOD snow tires for less than 20 grand. I see Mini's driving in Alberta snow all the time. Snow travel is about traction, and tires are where the traction is.


              Professional Automotive Reconditioning Services
              "You scuff it-I buff it!"

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              • #8
                Re: Need some advice on car shopping

                I love that sales pitch.... those tires are sport tires, so you need to buy a new car.
                2017 Subaru WRX Premium - WR Blue

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                • #9
                  Re: Need some advice on car shopping

                  If your worried about handling in the snow then buy a truck.
                  Nick
                  Tucker's Detailing Services
                  815-954-0773
                  2012 Ford Transit Connect

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                  • #10
                    Re: Need some advice on car shopping

                    This video should make your decision a no-brainer: http://www.youtube.com/daveramsey#p/.../0/iIgLyl66QxQ
                    -Mike

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                    • #11
                      Re: Need some advice on car shopping

                      If the mini is dependable, all that it needs are snow tires. I would go that route. If there are mechanical issues with the mini, go for the civic. But you also made need to get snow tires for the civic.

                      If mom is happy with the level of the dependability, payments of the mini, and the cost of school, Get the snow tires.

                      It sounds like you guys found a good salesman at Honda. He picked up on your mom's fears and ran with them.

                      Snow tires make the most sense to me.
                      quality creates its own demand

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                      • #12
                        Re: Need some advice on car shopping

                        I'm just looking at the map and I gotta say, 200+ mile distance between school and home sounds like a mission, especially during New York's snowy conditions in winter -- which, unfortunately, I can't relate to. But I can understand why the dilemma is present.

                        Questions I have before I can give you a straight answer are:
                        - How often will you be driving in college?
                        - How often will you be going home?
                        - Is drive comfort an important factor to you?
                        - Is your theoretical spending limit on a car $30,000?

                        First and foremost, I will concede that I am no fan of the 8th generation Honda Civic. Last February, between deciding an '06 Civic sedan and an '03 Volkswagen Golf, the former was an awful thing. The interior felt cheap, the dash was enormous (like you can setup a chess board on top and literally play a game or two with your passenger), and it was unbearably noisy at speeds of over 45MPH. Sitting in my former college mate's '09 Civic sedan recently confirmed my notions of it. A previous generation German hatchback had better soundproofing than the latest and greatest, so that was my car of choice.

                        At the time, I also test drove an '04 Accord and it was a cut above the new Civic too. It's quieter despite the larger (and therefore, thirstier) engine, bigger so that you can carry more of your belongings, and heavier which helps to iron out the bumps on rough roads. In short, Accords make good GT cars. I imagine that the newest Accords with their bulkier sizes now retain much of that philosophy. Yes, it is maybe 5-10 grand more, but you could also argue that it is 5-10 grand more car.

                        I don't know exactly how you drive (what's important to you in a car) and what your driving situation will be over the next few years, but if $30,000 Accord money is what you and your mother can afford, I say go for it. Especially for the distance I'm seeing on Google Maps (Suffern, NY to SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo, NY). You'll be more comfortable, the power will make the drive seem shorter, and you can bring more textbooks with you.

                        If, however, you don't like big cars with enormous wheelbases, or if you're going to be doing a lot of city driving with tiny car parks and stop-and-go traffic, or if you're not one to notice or care about cheap plastics and vehicle acoustics, the Civic will feel right at home to you.

                        Not to sound like a Volkswagen poster boy or anything, but I'd vouch any day for the 2010/2011 Golf -- designed in Germany (which gets hit hard by snow as well) with refined quality and convenience of a hatchback. It's as easy to park as a MINI but more practical; plus with your supposed 30 grand cap, you could even afford the more powerful GTI version.

                        But of course, since you are hit with snow, 4-wheel drive may be an important factor to you. The 2010 Subaru Impreza starting at mid-range Civic prices may be one for you to consider. And also the MINI snow tires that people here are suggesting while I was typing up this response.

                        Food for thought.
                        2003 Volkswagen Golf GL 2-Door (Manual) in Black / Beige
                        2012 Volkswagen CC R-Line (Manual) in Deep Black Metallic / Black
                        2013 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo Convertible w/ Sound in Reef Blue Metallic / Beige

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                        • #13
                          Re: Need some advice on car shopping

                          If the snow tires don't provide enough grip, then fill the hatch with all the money you saved.

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                          • #14
                            Re: Need some advice on car shopping

                            I am willing to bet you could get that 30k Accord down to at least 27k as well.
                            Nick
                            Tucker's Detailing Services
                            815-954-0773
                            2012 Ford Transit Connect

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                            • #15
                              Re: Need some advice on car shopping

                              Thanks for the responses guys. This is helping in my debate.............with myself .
                              Tedrow's Detailing
                              845-642-1698
                              Treat Yourself to that New Car Feeling

                              Comment

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