I finished out my Civic thread by actually leasing a new Elantra. While the Civic has more back seat room, a bit more trunk room and is a slightly quieter ride, it was just outside of what we wanted to pay, and the local dealer wouldn't budge on the price.
For those curious, its a base model 17 Elantra with just a couple of options. Alloy wheels and floormats and the upgraded ICE with Apple Carplay.
I scored it for essentially nothing down for $185/ mo. I make my first payment of $185 and drove off. No other fees. That's tax, title, fees, etc. $185. Not too shabby, IMO.
We recently took it on an 8 hour round trip journey to Amarillo Texas.
First, let me tell you what I don't like.
The tires. They're loud. The rest of the car is quite quiet, but those tires on that awful highway surface in Northern Texas was seriously bad news. I'll be swapping out for Michelins very soon.
That's it.
Let me start with my favorite things.
1. Fuel economy. For the drive down there, we averaged 44.5 mpg. We had a ton of wind and I drove quite a bit faster home and averaged 39.1 mpg.
2. Size. Outside of rear seat legroom, the car exceeds expectations in regards to interior space.
3. Looks. Its a handsome car, but this thing does not stand out. It blends in and no one pays attention to it, which is what I'm looking for.
4. Engine and trans. Its only 147 hp, but it moves quite well. Not fast, but its adequate when I need to pass on a two lane highway. The 6 speed is butter smooth.
5. Seats. I like these a lot more than I thought I would. No fatigue, just decent seats thats look to wear well, and are made of material that looks to repel liquids and stains.
Anyways, if you're looking for a good A to B appliance for $185 a month with decent options, this is a solid option.
I'll keep this updated regularly.
Chris
For those curious, its a base model 17 Elantra with just a couple of options. Alloy wheels and floormats and the upgraded ICE with Apple Carplay.
I scored it for essentially nothing down for $185/ mo. I make my first payment of $185 and drove off. No other fees. That's tax, title, fees, etc. $185. Not too shabby, IMO.
We recently took it on an 8 hour round trip journey to Amarillo Texas.
First, let me tell you what I don't like.
The tires. They're loud. The rest of the car is quite quiet, but those tires on that awful highway surface in Northern Texas was seriously bad news. I'll be swapping out for Michelins very soon.
That's it.
Let me start with my favorite things.
1. Fuel economy. For the drive down there, we averaged 44.5 mpg. We had a ton of wind and I drove quite a bit faster home and averaged 39.1 mpg.
2. Size. Outside of rear seat legroom, the car exceeds expectations in regards to interior space.
3. Looks. Its a handsome car, but this thing does not stand out. It blends in and no one pays attention to it, which is what I'm looking for.
4. Engine and trans. Its only 147 hp, but it moves quite well. Not fast, but its adequate when I need to pass on a two lane highway. The 6 speed is butter smooth.
5. Seats. I like these a lot more than I thought I would. No fatigue, just decent seats thats look to wear well, and are made of material that looks to repel liquids and stains.
Anyways, if you're looking for a good A to B appliance for $185 a month with decent options, this is a solid option.
I'll keep this updated regularly.
Chris