Joe Victor

On the Road in Style!

Joe asks Jody Victor® – 8 Convertibles You Can Buy for Less Than $30,000

Spring has sprung. The flowers are blooming, and the weather has gone from cold and gray to warm and sunshiny nearly overnight. That means it’s time to put away the all-wheel-drive SUV you relied on to survive winter and get into something that will allow you to enjoy the season better, something less practical, more revealing. I asked Jody Victor® to tell us about 8 convertibles we can afford now.

Jody Victor®: These cool vehicles are from an article by James Tate on msn.com. Here they are, Joe, in 2 parts.

Mazda MX-5 Miata

Even if the faithful Miata were an additional $5,000 over its starting price of $23,470, it’d still be the no-brainer of this list. A tight and playful chassis combines with a fuel-efficient inline-4 engine (167 horsepower, 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway), nearly 50/50 weight distribution for great handling, and rear-wheel drive to keep alive the classic British sports-car recipe cooked up so many years ago. It’s great whether your intention is to have the wind blowing through your hair on the way to the supermarket or to do some amateur racing. If you have some extra change, the power hardtop is an excellent option. Mazda managed to squeeze the whole operation in without a sacrifice in trunk space and a weight gain of less than 80 pounds.

Ford Mustang Convertible

If you haven’t looked at the Ford Mustang in awhile, you really should. For $27,310, you can have a 3.7-liter 305-horsepower V6 engine that returns 31 mpg highway, which is something of a miracle — never mind that the roof comes off. For that price, you even get selectable power-steering assist, too. Change the feel from sporty to comfortable at the touch of a button. Jam in three of your closest friends and there’s no better way to do some beach cruising.

MINI Cooper S Roadster

We chose the MINI Cooper Roadster over the MINI Cooper convertible to be a little different, but really there’s a notable sacrifice in both price and practicality. That said, the Cooper S Roadster is faster than its convertible counterpart. In the Roadster S, the 1.6-liter engine benefits from turbocharging to produce 181 horsepower. We’d opt for the quick-shifting 6-speed manual transmission. The combination makes for a car that is more than quick enough, hitting 60 mph in 6.7 seconds and muscling its little self on to a top speed of 141 mph. Oh, and you’ll see 35 mpg highway, too, with 27 mpg city. Prices start at an admittedly lofty $27,350.

Fiat 500C

While we’re on the topic of small cars, we should note that Fiats once again are available in the United States, and the company has been kind enough to bring its successful 500 to our shores. For just $19,500, you can drive one with a retractable top. The car, which can only be described as cute, sports a 1.4-liter engine that churns out just over 100 horsepower and offers a choice of either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic. The story here isn’t in the power, of course, but rather the fuel economy. When equipped with a manual transmission, the little Fiat returns 30 mpg city/38 mpg highway. That makes for a lot of shopping before a refuel.

Thanks, Jody! More next time!

Joe Victor

Joe asks Jody Victor®: 10 Cheapest Cars to Own II

Not only the price you pay/negotiate for your car, but all the costs such as, insurance, fuel, maintenance, etc over the life of the car have been included in this survey. I asked Jody Victor® to give us the last half from an article by Jessica Anderson of Kiplinger and msn.com.

Jody Victor®: Hey Joe, if you need to watch your pennies these cars could actually make a difference on your bottom line. Here’s the last five.

Kia Rio LX 4dr

5-Year fuel cost: $8,143
5-Year insurance cost: $5,445
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,345

Redesigned for 2012, Kia’s Rio gets a new 1.6-liter direct-injection engine that puts out a class-leading 138 horsepower, while managing 30 miles per gallon in the city and 40 on the highway. USB and satellite radio come standard (service is free for three months). An automatic transmission costs $1,100.

Scion iQ 2dr hatch

5-Year fuel cost: $7,553
5-Year insurance cost: $5,461
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,594

Measuring ten feet from bumper to bumper, the iQ is only about a foot longer than the Smart fortwo two-seater. But Scion packs its microcompact with not only a backseat but also 11 airbags (including the world’s first rear-window airbag), standard Bluetooth and HD radio technology. The 1.3-liter engine puts out 94 horsepower and gets 36 miles per gallon in the city and 37 on the highway. An automatic transmission comes standard.

Honda Insight 4dr hatch

5-Year fuel cost: $6,508
5-Year insurance cost: $5,487
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,786

Proving that hybrids don’t have to break the bank, Honda’s Insight boasts estimated service costs (maintenance plus repairs) of just $3,326 for five years — in the middle of this pack. Low fuel costs are a given, with 41 miles per gallon in the city and 44 on the highway. The car comes with an automatic transmission standard. It’s an IIHS Top Safety Pick, too.

Mazda2 Sport 4dr hatch

5-Year fuel cost: $8,759
5-Year insurance cost: $5,633
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $30,173

Although it’s built on the same platform as the Ford Fiesta, the Mazda2 has a style all its own, down to the characteristic Mazda “smile” in the front grille. An auxiliary input for music comes standard, and the 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine gets 29 miles per gallon in the city and 35 on the highway. An automatic transmission costs $840 extra.

Honda Fit 4dr hatch

5-Year fuel cost: $9,361
5-Year insurance cost: $4,997
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $30,411

Named Kiplinger’s Best New Car when it was redesigned for 2009, the Fit remains a stellar value. It has 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, ten cup holders and standard cruise control. A Maintenance Minder system reminds you when to change your oil and perform other scheduled service. The Fit gets 27 miles per gallon in the city and 33 on the highway. Plus, IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick. An automatic transmission costs $800.

Thanks, Jody! We’ll check them out!

Joe Victor

Joe asks Jody Victor®: 10 Cheapest Cars to Own

The price you negotiate for a car and the interest you pay on the car loan are only part of the cost equation. Insurance, depreciation, taxes and fees, what you pay over the years for fuel, service and repairs are all important ingredients in the cost of ownership. I asked Jody Victor® to tell us more about it from an article by Jessica Anderson of Kiplinger and msn.com.

Jody Victor®: All the vehicles on the list are small — either compacts or subcompacts — because they tend to have the lowest market price, the best fuel economy and reasonable insurance rates (premiums tend to rise with horsepower). Sticker price isn’t the only cost associated with owning a car. Here are the least expensive rides over a five year period in a two parts.

Nissan Versa S 4dr

5-Year fuel cost: $9,048
5-Year insurance cost: $5,134
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $27,135

The Nissan Versa gets a redesign for 2012, and the added amenities bump the bargain-basement feel out of the base model — without a big boost in price. An AM/FM/CD stereo with auxiliary input is now standard (only audio wiring was included in 2011), as is air conditioning. The Versa gets better mileage, too (27 miles per gallon city, 36 highway). An automatic transmission costs $2,130 extra. It’s also been chosen as a Top Saftey Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for 2012.

Hyundai Accent GLS 4dr

5-Year fuel cost: $8,143
5-Year insurance cost: $5,145
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $27,895

Riding a strong wave of redesigns, Hyundai has given the all-new Accent styling cues from the Sonata and Elantra. The Accent exhibits the brand’s commitment to quality, even at the lower end of the price spectrum. A six-speed manual transmission and direct-injection technology help it get 30 mpg in the city and 40 on the highway. One caveat: The base model doesn’t come equipped with a radio or air conditioning, and adding those costs $1,750 more. An automatic transmission costs $2,750 extra.

Ford Fiesta S 4dr

5-Year fuel cost: $8,568
5-Year insurance cost: $5,623
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $28,524

Introduced last year, Ford’s Fiesta adds a dollop of style to the sensible subcompact class. Dramatically raked headlamps and sharp creasing along the side give the Fiesta an aggressive look. Inside, the cockpit is sporty yet functional. On its menu of safety features is a driver’s knee airbag, and it’s been named an IIHS Top Safety Pick. It gets 28 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway. An automatic transmission is $1,095 extra.

Toyota Yaris L 2dr hatch

5-Year fuel cost: $8,306
5-Year insurance cost: $5,451
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,153

The Yaris sports a whopping nine airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag and dual front seat-cushion airbags, which inflate under your knees and thighs to hold you in your seat during an accident. A USB input with iPod connectivity comes standard, so you can control music choices through the screen in the dashboard. It’s fuel-efficient, too — 30 mpg city, 38 highway. An automatic transmission costs $725.

Kia Soul 4dr hatch

5-Year fuel cost: $9,146
5-Year insurance cost: $4,402
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,190

The Kia Soul makes boxy cool again. Along with its funky looks, it has 19 cubic feet of cargo space, a USB input and Sirius satellite radio standard (a subscription costs extra after three months of free service). It gets 27 miles per gallon in the city and 35 on the highway, and it’s an IIHS Top Safety Pick. An automatic transmission is $1,800 extra.

Thanks, Jody! More next time.

Joe Victor

Joe asks Jody Victor: 10 Best Resale Value Cars, 2012 Part II

Resale values come from a complex set of calculations based in part on historical data and economic predictions, as well as competition in each automotive segment, how strong a car’s brand is, and supply (including fleet and leasing sales) versus demand. I asked Jody Victor® to continue with the article By Jessica Anderson of Kiplinger for msn.com.

Jody Victor®: Hey, Joe, resale value may not seem like the most important thing when buying a new car. But if you only intend on keeping it for a few years it could be worth your while in the long run. Here’s the last five vehicles from msn.com.

SPORTS CARS: FORD MUSTANG

Sticker price: $23,105 (base coupe)
Invoice price: $22,040
TrueCar national average price: $20,974
3-year resale value: 63%, 5-year: 46%
City mpg: 19, Hwy: 29

Ford’s classic pony car won Best New Car last year with a redesign that added more power (305 horsepower from the 3.7-liter V6 engine) but kept fuel economy a priority. One of its shining achievements is a stellar resale value: It’ll be worth 63% of the sticker price after three years.

SMALL CROSSOVERS: SUBARU FORESTER 2.5 XT TOURING

Sticker price: $30,670
Invoice price: $28,767
TrueCar national average price: $29,259
3-year resale value: 60%, 5-year: 46%
City mpg: 19, Hwy: 24

Kiplinger’s Best in Class small crossover for the second year running, the Subaru Forester has sure-footed handling with the brand’s standard all-wheel drive, loads of interior space and a speedy yet thrifty turbocharged engine.

MIDSIZE AND LARGE CROSSOVERS: BMW X5 35I

Sticker price: $48,375
Invoice price: $44,575
TrueCar national average price: $45,706
3-year resale value: 62%, 5-year: 45%
City mpg: 16, Hwy: 23

With seating for up to seven passengers, German-engineered driving dynamics and high resale values, BMW’s X5 has always been appealing. For 2012, more standard features are added: roof rails and a cargo cover for added utility and an iPod/USB connection and Hi-Fi sound system for added enjoyment while driving.

TRUCK-BASED SUVS: JEEP WRANGLER SPORT

Sticker price: $22,845
Invoice price: $22,261
TrueCar national average price: $22,295
3-year resale value: 61%, 5-year: 46%
City mpg: 17, Hwy: 21

Jeep’s classic go-anywhere off-roader stays ahead of the pack on value. It offers the best mileage in its class (outside of hybrid models), with 17 mpg in the city, and tops the resale charts.

MINIVANS: TOYOTA SIENNA 7-PASSENGER V6

Sticker price: $27,110
Invoice price: $25,138
TrueCar national average price: $25,599
3-year resale value: 56%, 5-year: 42%
City mpg: 18, Hwy: 25

Redesigned last year, the Toyota Sienna is the only minivan to offer models with a four-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive. It seats up to eight passengers and features seven airbags, and its 3.5-liter V6 puts out 265 horses. It narrowly edges out the Honda Odyssey for Best Resale, and it receives a Worth a Look nod.

 Thanks, Jody! We’ll be sure to consider these vehicles when we go car shopping!

Joe Victor

Joe asks Jody Victor®: 10 Best Resale Value Cars, 2012

An important measure of a vehicle’s value — and appeal — is what it’s expected to be worth three and five years down the road. These figures are the estimated price a dealer would pay if you traded in the vehicle, expressed as a percentage of the original sticker price. I asked Jody Victor to tell us more about it from an article by Jessica Anderson of Kiplinger for msn.com.

Jody Victor: To win best-resale plaudits, the model must first be selected as one of the top 25 vehicles in its category. Then they pick the vehicle with the highest three-year resale value. No model is eligible for the award if another trim level of the same model has won Best Resale in a lower-price category. Here’s the first five vehicles from msn.com

CARS UNDER $20,000: FORD FOCUS SE HATCHBACK

Sticker price: $19,095
Invoice price: $17,903
TrueCar national average price: $18,375
3-year resale value: 63%, 5-year: 45%
City mpg: 26, Hwy: 36

Part of what clinched the Best New Car award in its class for the Focus was its stellar resale values. Good looks, plenty of standard equipment and tons of cargo space in the hatchback don’t hurt either.

CARS $20,000-$25,000: MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN

Sticker price: $22,450
Invoice price: $20,275
TrueCar national average price: $22,332
3-year resale value: 69%, 5-year: 53%
City mpg: 27, Hwy: 35

With a short-SUV-style body reminiscent of a Scion xB or Kia Soul, but with the Mini’s characteristically rounded features, the Countryman’s introduction last year has helped reinvigorate the brand. The biggest Mini also has the highest resale value of any vehicle in our rankings this year — worth a stunning 69% of the original price after three years.

CARS $25,000-$30,000: MINI COOPER COUPE S

Sticker price: $25,300
Invoice price: $22,840
TrueCar national average price: $25,217
3-year resale value: 68%, 5-year: 53%
City mpg: 27, Hwy: 35

New for 2012, the Mini Coupe (not to be confused with the long-standing Hardtop model) boasts a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine that gets 35 miles per gallon on the highway and among the highest resale values of any vehicle (sliding in just below its sibling, the Mini Countryman).

CARS $30,000-$40,000: BMW 128I COUPE

Sticker price: $31,925
Invoice price: $29,440
TrueCar national average price: $30,782
3-year resale value: 63%, 5-year: 43%
City mpg: 18, Hwy: 28

Although it’s one of the littlest Bimmers, the 1-series is no slouch — in value or on the road. Its 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine produces 230 horsepower and manages nearly 30 mpg on the highway.

CARS $50,000 AND OVER: AUDI A7 QUATTRO 3.0 PREMIUM PLUS

Sticker price: $63,745
Invoice price: $59,344
TrueCar national average price: $61,806
3-year resale value: 60%, 5-year: 44%
City mpg: 18, Hwy: 28

New for 2012, Audi’s A7 shares basic architecture, powertrain and interior styling with the A6, but the A7′s hatchback styling has more cargo space — 25 cubic feet — and higher resale values. It rates a Worth a Look nod from Kiplinger’s.

Thanks, Jody! More next time!

Joe Victor