Looking stealership has one of these on the lot with only 33k miles on it. I've been thinking about ditching my '02 Grand Cherokee Laredo that has 125k miles on it and will likely need 2-3k in repairs in the next year and picking up a gas sipper for a few years.

Were these decent cars or should I look at something else?

2/10/2011 9:33:23 PM

What's the price range?

2/10/2011 10:05:26 PM

fuel economy is not impressive for a shitbox. mid 20's

[Edited on February 11, 2011 at 12:40 AM. Reason : at least, on the sedans. you can do better]

2/11/2011 12:40:21 AM

That Ford is subpar in everything but the price.

2/11/2011 8:38:15 AM

^ agreed.

I'd make payments on a new shit box with a warranty. the gas mileage is so much better its worth it.
(anything with direct injection is soooo much better than anything without)

a tdi jetta would be rad too if you could find one in your price range.

[Edited on February 11, 2011 at 9:01 AM. Reason : .]

2/11/2011 9:00:35 AM

Quote :

"What's the price range?"

Generally, whatever is the lowest total cost of ownership over the next five years with an ever so slight emphasis on build quality/aesthetics (and I do mean slight). If it's a better overall value to pay for a newish jetta tdi or a Fit or whatever then thats what I'd get. If I can find an older used one (like this ZX3 for instances) that isn't going to require a big repair bill, that is what I'll get. Minor differences in fuel economy (~5mpg) are considered but not so much the deciding factor. Whether it's 30 on the highway or 35, it will be much better than the 20 I get in my Jeep.

I'm long pass the "fun car" stage for a couple decades so overall performance isn't really much of a factor.

2/11/2011 11:06:21 AM

get a civic

2/11/2011 11:50:35 AM

A guy i work with has a new Elantra and he is making his payments off the difference between his expense check profit now and his expense check profit when he drove his trd tundra every day.
(4 trips per week Raleigh to CLT ~ 178 miles for him)

Honestly i think he may be exaggerating some... but probably not much.

2/11/2011 12:32:56 PM

i would take any recent hyundai offering over that zx3

2/11/2011 2:41:38 PM

Yeah, I'm looking at the Accent online. 12kish with AC and some extra trim peices out the door with their 10yr/100,000. And better fuel economy than that zx3.

2/12/2011 11:39:01 AM

actually zx3 isnt a bad little car, but there was a sedan that was a little better

2/12/2011 7:25:33 PM