I like the Alero. To me it looks like the new Dodge Avenger, which I also like. Try to find a four-cylinder, if you can. Not only will it get better gas mileage, but the four-cylinder in that car does not produce much less power than the V6, and it's a good engine. The V6 is not bad, but that series of GM engines has intermittent problems with intake gasket leaks, which is not an insanely expensive problem, but obviously you'd rather not have it. As for the other mechanical problems you have referred to, I am not sure what you mean. Most of the parts in the car went into a lot of other models; they are probably not the absolutely most reliable things you could get, but they're common. The car's powertrain is pretty solid, especially with the four-cylinder. The 4T40/45 series automatic transmission is one of the cheapest to replace, and it's one of the more reliable ones out there. I like Saabs, as well. They're different and just "quirky" enough that you're not driving something that's like everything else on the road. On the plus side, many have been owned by people who are relatively well off, including car enthusiasts who appreciate the car for what it is, and these types of people usually take good care of their cars. (This same factor, in reverse, probably accounts for a big percentage of the share of reported problems with less expensive cars, such as the Alero: People buy them as workhorses, treat them as such, and they have more problems.) One downside with the Saab is it has a turbo, which I am not fond of in older cars you want to keep a while, as it's an expensive thing to replace, tends to put the engine under more stress, and it makes oil changes crucial. (The heat of a turbocharger will turn oil into sludge very quickly if oil changes are let go.) So if you buy one, I'd want to see maintenance records showing frequent oil changes -- preferably more often than the minimum owner's manual requirement. One other thing about the Saab is make sure you have a dealer that's not too far away. Their dealer network is not that large, and some people who live in small towns might be 100 miles or more from a dealer. Everyone I've ever talked to who has owned a Saab says the dealers are great, they really know the cars, and that's ideally where you'd want to have it worked on. But if there's no dealer anywhere nearby, that could be a problem. In fact, if I were thinking of a used Saab, I'd probably take it to the dealer before buying it to have it inspected and use that as an opportunity to introduce myself to them and get a feel for whether you'd want to deal with them.

I like your idea of shouting your reply to an "associate" in a store (read, "salesperson") when they approach you with an introductory question! And telling your reason, of course. Including, of course, it's effect on you. If on my leaving his store with empty hands a manager gave me the gears (especially if done in a loud voice), I'd turn back and walk right up to him, telling him that when I'm looking for a major purchase, I want to check out the various possibilities at length before deciding to purchase. And that, in the light of what he had just done, the possibility of my returning to his store had just slipped down several notches ... that I'd be likely to return only on condition that he was offering something that I really wanted very badly. Otherwise ... his store was, as of now, out of the running. And may you have a good day, sir ... I wouldn't want to leave you on a note of rudeness! ole joyful

When I got home at 6:15 yesterday I found I'd received an email from the Honda Fit salesperson, who sent me a price quote, a PDF attachment, at 5 p.m. I had dealt with him over the phone one day earlier and sent him a long email after the call. -!- Yes, the email was based on the draft above, and modified in ways that reflected comments above. I can post it if people want. His message: "Thank you for the detailed email. Here is a price." At 6:30 I emailed back and phoned (leaving message) saying we'd be available downtown around 7:30 p.m. for the test drive he wanted us to do. I live downtown. A similar story: Yesterday I called the Suzuki retailer closest to me and spoke to a salesperson. Ten minutes at 10 a.m. Before 12 noon I sent email to the manager for him to forward to the salesperson. The same long email modified as per feedback received. The salesperson called me back at 2:30; his price was $X thousand lower than the web price. He agreed with me that this was just the "over the phone" price with a stranger so the real price would be even lower than that. After calling him again at 4 he was expecting me to confirm later whether he'd see us that same evening. I sent email at 6:30 asking if it was reasonable to expect him to pick me up and drive another mile to fetch my wife who was finishing work. In other words, if the test drive could start at my wife's workplace or at my place. That email was also sent to the manager's email address, for him to see and discuss with the salesperson. Then I called and asked him the same thing. He went to get the email and consult his manager, and got back to me. No go. At 7:30 p.m. I was at his front door showing him my drivers' license while standing a few feet inside the front door. He gestured to a chair and I said "No time, remember we're driving now to go pick up my wife." He walked over to a floor model to show me things, and I said "You'll show all this to my wife when we get her into the vehicle, right? So let's get going." We left to go pick up my wife. The manager observed from the distance and did not approach. Minutes after picking up my wife, I was driving and my cell phone rang. It was the Honda Fit salesperson getting back to me at 7:50 p.m. Can't talk now, thank you for the email, bye-bye. I drove the three of us back to the Suzuki showroom, my wife drove a second vehicle, and then we did all sit down. Since he used silence as a closing tool, my wife resisted him. --- The best way to save money is to avoid spending money. (An SX-4 at $X deprec./year, plus insurance, plus gas, plus maintenance, etc) We still have our ten year old car depreciating at $1700 per year (bought used) and have never paid for major repairs for it yet. Since last year we now belong to a car sharing service. We've used it a few times. Compare A to B: A. carsharing service, regular car rental service, taxis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carsharing) B. owning a car Conclusion: A is way better. My wife was frustrated with our current situation. Now she is happy. She was the one who said "A" is way better after we went for a walk around the duck pond in the park. At 10 p.m. I feel now I've come as far as I needed to on Tuesday, 48 hours ago. We'll go rent a Versa or a Fit for our vacations. To try it out. I'll look into inventories visible on the web. Thank you!

I enjoyed our Hyundai a lot (Santa Fe SUV). But they self-destruct at around 80K. Cheap internal components that fail around the same time necessitating several major repairs. Since we don't drive a lot I got 14 yrs out of it which was more than enough! The Accent is the cheapest smallest car Hyundai makes. I wouldn't be willing to bet it's due for some major overhauls when you least expect it. I don't care for Toyotas (the GM of Japan) but they are reliably bullet-proof. Especially the Camry which is their flagship. I agree 100% with jemdandy. If you can afford it go for the 2012, better safety equipment. But you should be OK with the 2008 as well. Do be aware, however, that Toyota used Takata airbags, which are dangerous as they age (people have died from accidents involving them, which drove Takata recently into bankruptcy). For a 2008 the airbags MUST be replaced soon. The 10 yr mark is when the bags' components go bad. For the 2012 the replacement should be done (if it hasn't already been done) by 2022. Note the DATE of any replaced airbags. If the replacement was done prior to 2016, the airbag is the EXACT same manufacturing process found to be defective (the airbag explodes upon impact, sending small pieces of metal flying out at high speed). Since the airbags ONLY exhibit this defect as they age past 10 yrs, the NHTSA allowed Takata to replace earlier airbags with newer versions of the original design while the factories changed over to a safer design. Those cars with original Takata design, early replacements, are themselves scheduled for replacement of safer new airbags in no more than 10 yrs from that first replacement date - preferably sooner, if sufficient supplies of new design airbags come in. The recall is extremely comprehensive and is thus not scheduled to end until at least 2020; it will likely continue beyond that. Any used car you buy that has the bad Takata airbags is tracked by its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) which is listed on the vehicle's pink slip. Make sure you question the owner of any used car whether it was involved in the Takata recall, and WHEN any replacement airbags were installed (you want to see an actual invoice of the work done by a dealership; not a vague, "Oh, I think I had them replaced a year ago or something."). Note that for any strange reason if you decide to buy the Hyundai, it is not affected by the Takata recall. Hyundai has its own supplier for airbags. Only 19 auto manufacturers were affected, but most used Takata bags only for certain models, and in specific years. HTH, and good luck with your new used car!