Need advice on finding what’s right for me

[tribal badger]

So currently I have a Nissan versa sv 2019 , I have a budget of 30k and I’m looking for a car that meets all my wants and needs. I would like the car to be really efficient on gas since I travel a lot for my business of reselling, I would love for it to have some power compared to the Nissan versa sv, I would also love for it to be customizable and mod capable for future projects. I need something reliable to not something that’s gonna break down on me I need the engine to be bulletproof. I was thinking Mazda cause I heard they have a lot of features compared to Honda and Toyota but these two are also options, so Mazda, Honda and Toyota. Please and thank you

[tribal badger]

I also heard cvt transmissions aren’t it so I’m not really a car guy but I did some research Toyota is the only one that’s fairly good but still they recommend stay away from cvt

2024 Mazda 3 turbo hatchback premium plus is around 28k but the gas it gets I’m not sure if that’s really good it does have cool features like being a hatchback I’m not really sure how it does with tech and all its features compared to other cars. I also heard not sure if it’s true but the new Honda civic hybrid sports touring have some issues with quality control and the 1.5tubro engines are butt

It would also be cool to have a car I could possibly black out in the future

[dawn kestrel]

GG @tribal badger, you just advanced to level 3! Chat more to level up and earn top roles!

[tribal badger]

Someone recommend me

[tribal badger]

I know mpg is kinda butt for these

[merry tendon]

$30k will get you genuinely any car you can possibly want

V6 Camry or something

What's the mpg you need?

Mpg depends mostly on driving style tbh

My bike gets down to 15mpg

Holy shit you could get something like this

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChsSEwjg-KWV8OCPAxVJMq0GHWOMAukYACICCAEQGxoCcHY&co=1&sph=&cid=CAASNuRo1cgoE20OMy4WVIlacr7N2QLiKLSzW6lqa4KZabOfk28fkH_H-FF3W34dhbhVgJBnx8qSUQ&cce=1&sig=AOD64_1faGNt7QwnUMs2UEXmKr5AGWsUpg&ctype=303&q=&ved=2ahUKEwiwrZ2V8OCPAxW4KzQIHZe-OGEQiLoGegQICRAX&adurl=

[tribal badger]

like 30+ I travel a lot for business so I always drive for more than 3 hours

[tribal badger]

I’m not really looking for a truck sir, what’s special about this though I see it gets good mpg

[tribal badger]

Also what year for the v6 Camry may I ask that you recommend

[tribal badger]

Idk if this part is serious 😭

[dawn kestrel]

GG @tribal badger, you just advanced to level 4! Chat more to level up and earn top roles!

[tribal badger]

This is me basically getting first car ever the Nissan I have was passed down to me

[merry tendon]

It's a good deal

You said you had work so I assumed you needed to haul a bit

The truck has super good fuel efficiency, up to 40+mpg for the hybrid one

[merry tendon]

Look up (insert model) good and bad years

[tribal badger]

Nah I resell clothes and stuff like that but I live in the Central Valley so goodwills be far af from me

It is a good truck though I’ll keep that in mind

[merry tendon]

Oh no

Oh no no no

It's the one of the guys who ruined the thrift market for people actually in need

[tribal badger]

No no no 😭 I have my own booth I sell all my stuff really cheap

I swear 😭

[tough gazelle]

jeep gladiator 3.6 v6?

[merry tendon]

Where you buy stuff?

[merry tendon]

Why 😭

[tough gazelle]

engine is bulletproof

[tribal badger]

I go to goodwills, thrift stores, swamp meets I travel to Sacramento, Stockton, LA, and the bay to look for clothing

[tough gazelle]

oh rip u want moddable and reliable too

hybrids.. na

[tribal badger]

Yeah 😭 it seems like I can’t find the all in one

[tough gazelle]

that doesn't really exist

the closest you can come if you ask me is a vw jetta or sum like that because those get excellent highway mileage (50+ mpg)

i tuned mine as well

[merry tendon]

Oh damn it is? Didn't expect they were allowed to put good stuff in jeeps lol

But yeah I read a bit it seems to be good

But op here needs mpg

[tough gazelle]

yeah that's about the only good thing

[merry tendon]

So lean it runs on pure air lol?

[tough gazelle]

well it went from 147 to 185 bhp

it is still hella efficient on the highway

CAIs can make it sound good too but that's all subjective

also OBDEleven can do wonders in terms of electrical features

hell i added a brake based LSD from there

[merry tendon]

Sorry 185hp is too much for me

I need my 6.9 v8 making 170hp

[tribal badger]

Rav 4 looks sick tbh I’m not looking for a race car

[merry tendon]

Oh that's dope

[tribal badger]

Just something that’s gonna pick up a bit of speed and I can black out and make look nice

Good on gas and has nice features in the car interior like the tech

[tough gazelle]

2021 jetta SEL premium
rav4 isn't really known for its interior nor its tech

[tribal badger]

Not unless I go for the Mazda 3 carbon edition non turbo

I’ll check that out 2021 Jetta

[tough gazelle]

theyre available for like under 20 grand now lmao find a good one with low mileage

i wouldn't go newer than 2021 because the 2022+ has the 1.5 engine instead of the 1.4. nothing is available for those yet, and they are infamous for head gasket issues fairly late in mileage

[tribal badger]

There’s some nearby for 22k with 18k miles

[tough gazelle]

i would go for the one with 51k instead of 18k

[tribal badger]

Does it make a difference for the fwd and awd

[tough gazelle]

for a jetta not really

if awd is important tho get hte mazda

[merry tendon]

"Nice features"

"Problems on the problems list in a couple years"

[tribal badger]

Really? 😭 why you say that

[merry tendon]

From my own experience and complaints I hear

My featureless car has never pissed me off either

Cars with features don't stop pissing me off

[tribal badger]

Would it be fine if I come back to this chat I have to clock back in work

[merry tendon]

Like the most random features will randomly fail

Even something like power windows, which people expect to always be present

[tough gazelle]

in my experience not rly
depends tho

[merry tendon]

This reminded me, I should get my ac working

It's the only feature I have 💀

[tough gazelle]

what car do u drive

[merry tendon]

2008 Dakota manual rwd base

Crank windows

It has efi, abs, and used to have ac so it's luxurious

[tough gazelle]

ohhh okay i guess that explains the features not working

[merry tendon]

What features

The windows still crank so that's a working ac

[shy pulsar]

Mazda are for people who are fans of Mazda

Similar to Subarus

But if you really want a newer car

Want it to be modifiable cosmetically, get the last Camry. Either V6 or not. Since your hauling stuff around do not get the TRD Camry

[merry tendon]

They're not hauling

[tribal badger]

Someone just recommend me

[merry tendon]

You said you didn't want sportier cars

[shy pulsar]

Thought OP had a clothing businesss

[merry tendon]

Also why no trd Camry? Suspension or something?

[merry tendon]

Super light loads

[shy pulsar]

Nope, the TRD Camry comes with a rear strut brace and doesn’t let you put the back seat down

They are secured in place. Cannot be dropped.

[tribal badger]

I don’t mind if the back seats don’t go down

I just thought it looked cool cause I travel a lot I could sleep in my car

[shy pulsar]

Trust that will get old QUICK

[merry tendon]

Let's be honest op has no friends so seats are removable

-# im sorry op pls forgive me

[shy pulsar]

You can get a V6 Camry XSE

[tribal badger]

😭 I like big back space but sex in cars suck

I’m joking I wouldn’t do that

[shy pulsar]

Still have access to all the middle availability

Toyota V6 has proven itself and gets pretty good gas mileage with the 8 speed

[tribal badger]

So a v6 Camry xse would be good for amazing features like sound system, interface, and things like sun roof, or heated seats, and it is good on gas and it’s engine is bulletproof

Can I tune them or mod them internally not that I probably will but just in the future if I ever want to

[shy pulsar]

Yup

And you can get it with the red interior leather

[merry tendon]

Damn it's been 14 years since last manual Camry

[shy pulsar]

Yup… sad boys

But the 8 speed trans is great.

[tribal badger]

What year if I may ask for the Camry

Also how’s maintenance

[shy pulsar]

Try and find the 2024 or older. That is the last gen that used the V6

[merry tendon]

@shy pulsar In your exp does this work?

[shy pulsar]

Maintenance is easy and cheap

[tribal badger]

This looks sexy wtf

[shy pulsar]

It sure does

Might be hard to find the XSE in both the red interior AND V6

But the black interior is just as sexy.

[merry tendon]

God I hate steering wheel buttons

[shy pulsar]

Apple car play, rear view camera, JBL speakers, sun roof

[merry tendon]

The anxiety of accidentally pressing one when palm steering backing up

[shy pulsar]

“music 100% Volume”

[merry tendon]

For under $30k??

[tribal badger]

Damn ok so you would personally choose this over the Mazda 3 premium plus turbo

[dawn kestrel]

GG @tribal badger, you just advanced to level 5! Chat more to level up and earn top roles!

[shy pulsar]

Well the Mazda is a awesome looking car. Especially the Hatch

[tribal badger]

Or any other car like Honda or whatever you could possibly think of for my kinda situation a all around car daily driver that I’ll take to places

[shy pulsar]

And you can get it in the espresso leather. 🤤

[tribal badger]

For the Camry?

[shy pulsar]

The Mazda has that as an option

But Mazda is what it is, a Mazda, so unless you really like Mazda, I can’t recommend one. Never driven one

[merry tendon]

Leather n stuff, does it last longer?

[shy pulsar]

But I have drive. The Camry and own a 21 RAV4. They are great cars and ways to work on

[shy pulsar]

In the Mazda not sure

My RAV has what is called Softtex, it is waterproof for the off road edition

But the Camry has actual leather. Easy to maintain just condition it a couple times a year

[tribal badger]

Okay okay Honda is out the picture right compared to these guys

[shy pulsar]

Just depends on what you want. Honda is a great option, can still get 6 speed but you get a 1.5t

With the civic that is

Accord only comes CVT now

[tribal badger]

Yeah I’m not looking for cvt 😭 and the 1.5t have their issues my gf accord headgaskets just blew up

[tribal badger]

The gas for the v6 is not 30+ 😞

I think it’s like 26 mpg or lower

[shy pulsar]

It is for highway

But if not get the 4 cyl XSE. That gets 39 highway.

Non hybrid

[tribal badger]

What’s the issue with hybrids may I ask why are they frowned upon

[merry tendon]

I don't think they are

Ecvts are more reliable than standard cvt

Hybrid batteries usually fail at like 100-125k mi tho and that's expensive

[tribal badger]

Ohhh ok what’s a good reliable low maintenance hybrid with 200+ hp, nice interior,interface design, features, and body that can be cosmetic modded I just wanna black it out , I would really like speed but I know I wouldn’t get the mpg I’m looking for I just need something kinda luxurious that I’m extremely comfortable and be happy with when I drive for a couple hours at a time a really nice daily car for long trips.

[opal lotus]

If you service the cvt fluid it can last but yeah it's prone to failure

[tribal badger]

Yeah that’s what’s happening right now to my Nissan versa sv

[tribal badger]

I didn’t know it could be this complex ngl I thought picking a car would be easy maybe I’m picky but just trying to fit my needs and wants in 1 car is hard especially when there’s so many different good options

[tribal badger]

The Camry is a good option like a really good one the 2025 xse hybrid is really catching my eye would you recommend it has some decent speed compared to my Nissan, and it has a nice body that I can cosmetically change and I think it’s low maintenance, really good on gas, interior looks nice. Would you guys recommend that?

But the Mazda 3 hatch looks so sexy

[tribal badger]

The Camry does have more space than the Mazda I’m pretty sure

[tough gazelle]

yeah i love the new camrys

[tribal badger]

Those aren’t around 30k are they

Well at least the 2025 version

[tough gazelle]

the base model is like 28k new

[tribal badger]

I would prob just save up for the xse the base model doesn’t really carry much

Wait it’s just the interior that’s different I’m pretty sure

[tough gazelle]

yeah

but the LE gets 2 mpg better than the others for some reason

[tribal badger]

Wait you can build your own wtf

[tough gazelle]

wha

[tribal badger]

Ahhhhhhhhh

I guess

[tough gazelle]

you can also get a corolla cross hybrid if you need the space

[shy pulsar]

Only limited to the 4 cyl only if you get the new gen

[shy pulsar]

Probably lighter. Less options

[tribal badger]

Damn the Camry would be out of my budget since idk the base model is kinda butt and I would like features on my car

[merry tendon]

Have you tried the <$5k car experience? If so ignore my question

[tribal badger]

I have not I’m assuming that’s getting a car under 5k

Like a cash car

I got a Nissan versa sv 2019 right now not sure if you could compare that to the same experience

[merry tendon]

Wow you're really missing out lol, the luxury of being able to leave your car unlocked and never worry about someone breaking in/stealing it haha

[tribal badger]

😭 yeah I’m not in the market for that unless I get a new car and use my Nissan as a beater

[merry tendon]

I might get a $2k car as a beater

The $4k truck rn is the luxury ride

[cerulean shard]

he also could get a diesel

big power, low mpg.... 335d or something

[shy pulsar]

The SE is not a bad trim

The LE is kind of bleh

[rich trench]

2025 camry LE

[rich trench]

Yea just get the base model