Car Buying: CarZen’s Recommendations
Dec.24, 2008 in
Cars
CarZen helps narrow down car make and models based on a series of profile questions. According to that site, here are the top-10 cars I should consider buying:
This set of results came from my interest in a reliable, high mileage car with some cargo space for under $25,000. Reliability plus high mileage seems to have knocked American cars off the list and that price point is tough for German cars to hit.
December 24th, 2008 at 9:24 am
I have been considering a new impreza WRX for myself, however i don’t think it belongs on this list per your criteria. If it did, the car would be a home-run. however it only gets a listed 25 highway mpg, not a number i would classify as ‘high.’ Also, to get the hatchback version (for cargo space), the base price exceeds 25k (not to mention the fact that you’re going to want a few basic accessories to make it usable which inevitably boost the price quickly.) Perhaps the stock impreza belongs here instead.
Just a thought.
Cheers,
-b
December 24th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Crazy. I did the test and it suggested I get a Mini Cooper S.
December 24th, 2008 at 11:46 am
I like my Impreza a lot. It’s not a WRX, but the cargo room is great and in weather like the winter we’ve been having, all wheel drive is supreme. I also looked at the Fit a lot, but ended up with an Impreza instead. Fit gets better mileage, but a used Impreza was cheaper and a little more sporty.
December 24th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
So without trying to get matched to what I just bought…..it matched! It came up with 86% for a Honda Accord EX-L. I guess I bought the right car!!!
December 26th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Judy, it sounds like both you and Aaron picked your own cars. That’s a good sign for the ability of this program to help guide people to appropriate vehicles.
December 27th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Ed, thanks for this post. I did this (as I now am in need of a car) and it suggested some cars I hadn’t considered: Saturn Outlook; Hyundai Santa Fe & Veracruz. My top selection is the crossover I like the most right now, the Mazda CX-9. I like that you can select the most important things, and then it tells you how those things scored. So we want a third-row seat, and some cars are scoring 0%, so we know that’s a no-go.
December 28th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
I’m surprised they didn’t suggest a Toyota Matrix. My husband drives the Versa, and I have the matrix, and I find that you get a bit more cargo space in the matrix, though I think the basic versa is only 10,000 starting, which is pretty damn cheap. I thought about an impreza when I was looking, but for 7,000 more than my matrix i couldn’t justify it… though I didn’t opt for the 4wd, which i probably should have. But then I wouldn’t get 38 mpg like i do now
December 29th, 2008 at 12:43 am
The Matrix does sound like a good fit. Thanks for pointing that out.