It's about a basic car

[AverageOldGuy]

Sweet Thing and I have been thinking about selling our big house in rural VA, moving into a small apartment near our kids in northern VA . . . it's a long story but our house -- which we designed and built 18 years ago --- is the finest in the neighborhood, built for old folks, top quality materials and workmanship, nothing grand and showy, but a damn fine piece of planning and construction -- and last week a neighbor made us a cash offer for the house that knocked our socks off. It's a long story.

On Monday a 30-cu-yard dumpster will be dropped in our driveway where we will deposit over 55 years of treasures. On Tuesday we sign the contract to sell the house, closing date depending on when we move, and neighbor is giving us a BIG deposit check which we will use for deposit on new place, moving, etc. Our kids and grands are coming to pick us clean of family heirlooms.

Then, there's the question of vehicles.

We are moving to a small city, slap in middle of downtown -- walk to restaurants, drive 1-3 miles to doc and groceries -- or Uber -- 5 miles to kids and grandchildren.

We own three old vehicles -- all between 25 and 20 years old, all with over 200K miles. We want to buy the same car as a close friend of ours -- Ford Fiesta, base model, with which she is delighted and which is all we need. Damn if Ford didn't discontinue the car in 2023 -- and we had our heart set on one. Guess too many people were buying sensible basic cars and not enough monster trucks and SUVs.

So -- we are now looking for a basic electric. The senior apartments to which we are moving have charging stations.

If only the town allowed golf carts on the streets.

[radical noodle]

1. I see a lot of Smart cars around here

They're a bit bigger than a golf cart, and although I've personally never driven one, I can't help but think they have something going for them to be so popular.

[brush]

2. Wonderful post, AOG. Thanks for sharing and good luck with your new chapter in life.

As for a vehicle, I suggest a hybrid that's not limited to one fuel.

[usonian]

3. Good luck.

I hope to move soon. It's just me here, and since I gave away things I never used over time, my downsizing won't be so massive. There wasn't a charging station within 50 miles a few years ago, so I got a Forester (gas) to replace the 20 year old pickup.

Doesn't carry as much, but stuff that I carry doesn't get wet. It gets just short of 30 mpg in the mountains, some 50% better than the little pickup.

People lately seem to prefer hybrids, for the miles between charges.

Buy your friend's car? Is it electric? I wonder what people will say. Good that you brought up the topic.

[hurl]

4. Chevy Bolt is a good basic EV

I've had mine for five years. It's roomy inside, and the battery is liquid-cooled, which means it will last longer. The best part is the maintenance. The first major maintenance is at 150K to change the battery coolant. If you master one-pedal driving, the brakes aren't used often enough to wear, and of course there are no oil changes, radiator flushes, and the like.

I recently purchased a decidedly not basic EV because I had such good luck with the Bolt, which I kept for the time being. So that's my experience for your consideration.

Best of luck with your life changes!

[Liberal In Texas]

10. I rented one in Seattle, it's a very nice car.

And affordable.

[Layzeebeaver]

5. we've got a 2007 BMW 320d station wagon

It's a diesel, sure - and folks have opinions about that. But the mileage is about 80k, and it doesn't burn any oil. Ok, the suspension might need to be replaced soon (Shocks and struts, front and rear)

But it needs no monthly payment, and even here in the UK it doesn't eat too much fuel (£1.45 per litre)

I highly recommend finding a good, used car. Why waste money on something that will loose half its value just being driven off the lot.

It doesn't need to be petrol or Diesel. Even a previously owned electric...

Regardless, I bet you can find a decent used Fiesta out there somewhere with low mileage.

[True Dough]

6. Congrats on the home sale!

Hope the downsizing goes smoothly. Glad you have family there to help.

As for the vehicle, you couldn't go wrong with a new or used Prius, if that's an option.

[MichMan]

7. Fiesta was discontinued after 2019 in the US

Should be able to find a nice used one

[hatrack]

8. Not a specific recommendation, but Shift2Electric's list is updated monthly

Very handy - range, battery size, MSRP, available tax credit and all the rest, and their list covers all EV and PHEV models currently available in the US.

https://www.shift2electric.com/evinfolist

Also, bear in mind that you can get tax credit for up to $7,500 for a new EV and up to $4,000 for a used one. Depending on the OEM, these credits may be available immediately at the point of sale.

https://www.irs.gov/clean-vehicle-tax-credits

From my own experience, I bought a PHEV five years ago and will never go back to a conventional ICE model.

Good luck with all you're working on!

[malaise]

9. Enjoy the move

No car advice I offer would be useful😀

[Liberal In Texas]

11. Look at Kia.

The Niro is a smallish SUV available in full EV or plug-in EV.
The plug-in is excellent for running around town for errands and appointments without using gas. If you need to go further than 25 miles the hybrid mode kicks in for mileage in the 40s.
And it's a reasonably priced vehicle and has many of the amenities one would find on a luxury car.

[orthoclad]

13. But their customer service is atrocious

Had a Niro plug-in. It seemed nice until it died in the mountains and stranded us. Kia gave almost NO customer support, spent hours and hours on the phone with them. Full warranty, low mileage. The gas engine belt tensioner froze, and stranded us in the boonies. AAA helped more than Kia Customer Service. Got rid of it quick for a reliable toyota.

[Liberal In Texas]

15. I guess your experience my vary. I've had good luck with the vehicle so far.

The only thing I've had a problem with was that the dealership used to be really great when I needed some warranty thing serviced, but they sold it to another company and a lot of their good people jumped ship. It was hard to even get an appointment but they've been getting better lately.

I think Kia Connect is greatly overrated and I too have AAA and they're really good.

[orthoclad]

17. I liked the Niro until

it died and stranded us in the wild. Brand new car. Major catastrophe, middle of pandemic. Very little help from Kia.
Two issues here:
a new car, around 2k miles, dying.
Practically no help from Kia.

[mercuryblues]

12. An option to consider

Keep one car and sell the others. Low insurance and taxes. When things settle after the move, take your time looking for something that suits your needs.

If you need to go somewhere, you can always rent a vehicle in the meantime.

[snowybirdie]

14. Just remember

The older you get, the harder it is to get in and out of very small cars. We did love our Accord hybrid.

[mitch96]

21. thats why I went with a small/compact SUV. I found it hard to get in and out of my Honda Civic.

For me, the rule of thumb is if sitting like I'm gonna get out of the vehicle,
my hips need to be higher than my knees.
Then it's easy. Hips below or at the same hight as my knees and I know it's gonna be difficult. YMMV
works for me.
They also make these gizmos that attach to the door jam/lock that you can use to help get out. Less than $20. You can keep it in the door pocket and use it to help exit the car..

m

[orthoclad]

16. Couple of ideas

Since you're looking for something like a golf cart, consider a cargo e-trike. I just looked at some models as low as 750, sufficient for city streets and light grocery shopping. Batteries can be switched out easily for charging.

I'm hoping the Aptera goes into production soon. Solar-powered e-car, 2-seater with cargo room. Batteries come in sizes from 250 mi range to 1000 mile range. Charges itself in sunlight, but can be charged from a plug as needed. A basic build runs around 30k (so they say). So far it's promising but not realized, might go into production next year or two. Very advanced design.

Basic cars like the Toyota Yaris are disappearing in favor of over-designed bloatmobiles, full of touch screens and lots of gadgets to take your eyes off the road. I still prefer a car with radio buttons and a manual brake - what they called "emergency" brakes; new cars have those abysmal automatic brakes that you can't grab a handle and stop the car in emergencies. They call all this junk "safety features". Grr. Just more reasons to charge 10k-20k more for a car loaded with driver distractions.

[mitch96]

22. "something like a golf cart, consider a cargo e-trike" Now your talking but a bit cold in the winter...nt

[orthoclad]

27. True, it wouldn't be all-weather,

you'd need a car for rain and snow, but it would be a cheap and easy way to get around in fair weather with electric drive, shaving a large percentage of miles off the family car.

I think some high-end models are enclosed or have hoods, but they are beyond my budget so I didn't look at them.

Might also be useful for backup during breakdowns and maintenance.

[EX500rider]

18. Just buy a low mileage 2023 Fiesta

[Beastly Boy]

19. A used second or third generation Prius

or a plug-in Prius in your case might be a good car for you.

They are very long-lasting, low maintenance cars with very high customer satisfaction rate. Reasonably roomy for a compact car. I would be weary of buying a new car in a larger city, where thefts (and in case of a Prius, thefts of catalytic converters) are more common than in rural areas.

I've been driving Priuses in a city for 13 years now, and I am happy as a pig in mud.

[CoopersDad]

24. The Plug In is great for anyone who needs that added range.

I had a 2012 Volt that was perfect, ran on just EV mode for 90% of my driving.

[sinkingfeeling]

20. How about a new Nissan Leaf EV?

[CoopersDad]

23. Recommending a Nissan Leaf, Prius Prime, or Tesla Model 3.

They can all be had new in the $30K range with incentives and less if you buy used.
I've owned two of the above 3 and find the Tesla to be the most basic vehicle I've ever owned after a 1941 Ford military jeep (GPW).

I know what you mean about the Fiesta, no frills and really simple to drive and simple to repair, like a 1970 Datsun pickup, but they do rust and wear out and nothing like these are made at all anymore.

A $4,000 rebate is available to most toward the purchase of a used EV, I recommend you shop and test drive all three above.

Good luck, let us know what you end up doing!

[LizBeth]

29. I will never buy a Tesla and give him my money but had heard about Leaf, gonna check it out

[CoopersDad]

31. Good, the Leaf is a solid car, early models don't use the standard charger connector.

But I'm sure there are ways around that!

[Scrivener7]

26. Enjoy the adventure and congratulations!!

But a consideration: do the apartments you are considering have convenient charging stations? My building doesn't so I opted for hybrid. Got a used Lexus version of the Prius. They discontinued the model in 2017, but have slightly larger hybrids. If this one ever dies, though, I'll opt for a used Prius.

Mine cost less than a new Civic, gets 47 miles to the gallon and looks like it will last forever.

[LizBeth]

28. How exciting for you. I had a 3300 sq ft of 20yrs and another 20 of a different generation

to get rid of. Oh my. That was hard and took a couple moves to get rid of it all. BUT.... Oh it feels so good to get rid of it. Just feels so much lighter and can breathe. Over two yrs ago packed the car only.... go rid of the very last of crystal ect... and moved to Uptown Minneapolis and had a blast. Grocery store across the street, library on the next block, 20 or so restaurants in a 2, 3 block radius. I mean so much fun.

Missed my NW and moved back to Eugene in June, but missing urban and looking at moving and buying a condo in Portland. Gotta spend some time there and Eugene is so so so pretty, and easier and I am old. But all new experiences in Portland.

Have a blast. All the work will be worth it. A pang every once in a while with something got ridden off but mostly it is the very best and made it easy on the boys when I die.

(I really want to know the city)

[BrianTheEVGuy]

30. It isn't electric but...

A Mitsubishi Mirage is quite basic, comes with a 10 year/100K warranty, gets great mileage has a relatively spacious interior, and typically sells new for around $16K.

[ret5hd]

32. You can't have my 1999 Ford Ranger!!!

i don’t care what you offer me…you can’t have it!