Sedan for around $20,000

[isparadox]

We are looking for a four door sedan for my fiancee. Our budget is around $20,000 give or take couple of thousand dollars. What would be a good car at that price?

[g35girl]

SRT-4
accord
mazda6 (or 3)
jetta

maybe?

.g35girl.

[pelucidor]

Totally agree.

Accord for the quality and space.
Mazda 6 and Mazda 3 for the fun-to-drive and gadgets (NAV, HIDs etc)
SRT-4 for cheap speed
Jetta for ... um, because it's German. Actually forget Jetta (new model coming out next year).



'04 G35 Sedan 6MT in Diamond Graphite/Graphite with Premium, Nav, Aero
'02 Acura MDX Touring in Redrock Pearl/Saddle with wood bits, cargo stuff

[isparadox]

Thank you for your suggestions. Couple of cars i also saw in the price range are Altima and new Malibu (uses the Saab platform). Any comments on these?

[Mooser]

My sister-in-law has gone through 2 Malibu's. Bottom line is, if you don't want your A/C to ever work, then I guess it would be a decent car. Something about GM cars and A/C's.

2003-G35C-5AT Laser Red/Black/Prem/XM/Tint/Chrome 17's/Black Badged

[g35girl]

a friend of mine got a loaded malibu a few years ago. she and her husband get some kind of discount from GM. her comment? "we got a malibu because we can't afford to get something nicer at the moment."

.g35girl.

[ABQ_G35]

Really, the Saab platform huh? I would have thought that would be a more expensive car!


Brilliant Silver/Graphite/Chrome Wheels '04 Sedan/5AT

[JDMan]

Are you sure it's a Saab platform and not just a GM platform that Saab uses? GM cut Saab's R&D way back, and I know the 9-3s are built on some shared GM platform. I drove a Saab for 10 years, but I wouldn't place much value on any new "Saab" platform. Why buy a GM when you could buy something else?

Personally, I wouldn't look further than the Mazda3 in the new car market. In the used market, lots of options.

-Jack
Obsidian '03 G35 Sports Coupe (for sale)

[sixone]

Get her a Certified Used Infiniti I35...keep it in the family

OG 03.5

[yotone]

dose it have to be new? if not why not a E36 M3 sedan?
but you must ask yourself, " should i buy my wife a car that can out perform mine?"



http://www.rimpro.com/media/versus.mpg

[Bogler]

Mazda 3. Fun car, well under 20K and i like the way they look inside and out. you might get it fully loaded, nav, leather, moonroof, 6CD, xenon, tirepressure monitor, spoilers, 16"wheels, fogs and still be in your 20K range or maybe a little more.

4020 P3MCG6T5I

[WantAG35]

Totally agree with about the mazda 3. go for it

[isparadox]

Mazda 3 is a nice car but we are looking for a little more backseat leg space than what Mazda 3 has.

[JDMan]

Well then, you're probably stuck with the usual Accord, Camry, Mazda6, Altima, Passat crowd if you want a brand new car bigger than a Mazda3. Here's a year-old comparo that's probably still pretty reliable (although they tested pricier, optioned out versions), but I'd just drive them all and pick the one you like best/can get the best deal on.

Battle of the Bland

-Jack
Obsidian '03 G35 Sports Coupe (for sale)

[Z06ified]

Screw the Mazda 3. The Mazda 6 is the one you want. It's a fantastic car for the price, and its much roomier than the Mazda 3. It's one of the few $20k family sedans that is really a driver's car. The Accord and Camry are soft, squishy, and well, boring. The 6 can really handle well, brakes well, and has good power. They seemed to have trimmed it nicely too and has a nice quality feel to it. The Altima is close, but it missed the boat because of the cheap feel it has, and too much torque steer with the V-6 and no quaife.

The Mazda 6 for some reason has really been under appreciated by buyers, although most magazine testers have raved about it.

The best part for you is, Mazda dealers are really discounting 6's to keep them moving, so you can get some incredible deals on them. Keep the options down, and you can get a V-6 model for about $20k. Nice looking car too.

If you can, get it with a stick - it'll be even more fun to drive.

2003 G35C, 6MT, DG/G, Aero/Nav/Premium
2002 Corvette Z06, Electron Blue/Black