America's cheapest cars

[jwight]

smart makes the list at #4:

America's-Cheapest-Cars: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance

[wahi]

I feel sooo "cheap"..

[Red_fortwo]

Unfortunately, they seem to have blindly created their list strictly from base MSRP. No consideration for TCO including fuel costs and maintenance or the differences in standard equipment between the models.

[vwW12]

Originally Posted by jwight

smart makes the list at #4:

America's-Cheapest-Cars: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance

You gotta love how the MSRP does not include the $399 "dealer fee" charged by smart of Coral Gables, Fl.

[Red_fortwo]

Originally Posted by vwW12

You gotta love how the MSRP does not include the $399 "dealer fee" charged by smart of Coral Gables, Fl.

That's okay, I can bet you that every car that gets better than 35 mpg highway has such a fee on it at the dealer. OTOH, Hummer is offering 0% financing.... GM's Waggoner said that 99.999% of the people in this country couldn't have predicted the swing in market share from SUVs to small cars. I question his math, but I'm glad that most of us here are in his minority.

[Orphan-Beggar]

My analysis of this revealing article:

The Pure fortwo is the least expensive with the highest gas mileage (worst warranty)

The Kia Rio is the least expensive with best warranty and decent gas mileage (rebates also)

Those looking to trade your gas guzzlers for a second car, take note!

[2smartArizona]

I've tried out the top four cheapest cars, and I would never consider the first two.

Neighbors son has a Kia Rio, and the interior is so cheap the dashboard delaminted and peeled off itself in the heat. Really cheap materials and while I likethe looks of the car and the colors they offer, driving the car is another story. Not fun, not smooth, and the thing beat me to death.

Rented an Aveo in Florida. Again, liked the looks and the colors, did not seem as "cheap" as the Rio, but after driving it from Lighthouse Point to Port St Lucie and back for a week, it was killing me. Terrible car, and I could never own it.

Toyota Yaris, cheap yes, but handled well, did not beat me to death like the first two, and I felt I could drive it to Alaska without being overly fatigued. I would buy one without hesitation. But the smart has the cool that none of the other three did. I only hope that I am not disappointed in the long run, but if I hate it, at least I know I can find someone to take it off my hands. My son is dying to have it, and I guess I could always find someone to take it off my hands.

[BigWarpGuy]

If you want some one to take it off your hands, this forum would be a great place to start. I really like driving Herb; my Smart Fortwo Pure.

[John17]

Cheap but awesome!

[2smartArizona]

Originally Posted by John17

Cheap but awesome!

I hope so...only a couple of months to go now, and each time I try one it makes my eyes light up, but the true test will be going back and forth to work everyday in it for a while. I'm pretty sure it is going to be great, but the little test drives I've had so far have been too short to know. can't wait to confirm that I have indeed made the right choice.