Our old Camry is showing its age (~12 years) and we have decided to
> look for a new car but budget down to "Corolla level". I said "level"
> as I am open to competing models from Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, etc. >
> I would appreciate your help in choosing the model, as well as the
> "sub-model" (CE, LE, DX etc.).
>
> Most of our driving is city or regional: round trips to places 10-50
> miles away. A few times a year we drive 300-500 miles trips.
>
> I would like basic safety features (line anti-lock brakes) and comforts
> (4-door, AC). Very high priority running cost (mpg, reliability). I can
> live with manual or automatic. I would consider new, or low-mileage
> dealer demos etc, but not "really used". (Like everyone else, I thought
> about Prius but it looks too expensive.)
>
> A few questions:
>
> 1. Which make/model would be the best fit?
>
> 2. What is the best site for reading up on these and well as comparison
> reviews? (Bought my last car 12 years ago and online resources must
> have come along since then.)
>
> 3. Would you go to a local dealer or Carmax, Carsdirect etc?
>
> 4. At this point would you buy a 2009, or 2008?
>
> 5. When is the best time of the year to get good deals on last years
> models, dealer demos, loaners and like? (These I'd imagine are only
> available from dealers.)
>
> Thanks for all help.
lots of discussion here, my additions: at this point, it's clear that side airbags are a significant addition to safety, i'd tend to make them a must. diseases of japanese cars, toyota and honda included, tend to be more age related than mileage related. as such, "easiest" way to own them might be to buy new or maybe one year old, then sell around the time of the "big service" where you have to change the timing belt. repeat as necessary. as pointed out, the depreciation on toyota or honda is pretty low, so a good deal on a new one is as cheap as a bad deal on a one year old. either way, it'll depreciate less while you own it than other makes, so a little more expense up front ends up saving you over the long run. if you are more into keep it until it rusts away, as with the 12 year old Camry, that's obviously less of an issue. in which case, you might want to consider a hyundai along with focus, mazda, nissan, because the cost of entry is less for them. hyundai quality has come a long way lately.