Buyer's Remorse

[butter]

Hi guys,

I overthink a lot of things in life, and buying expensive stuff is one of them. (Okay, so most people feel that way.)

I was curious about equivalent cars I could buy for $26k, if I didn't buy the Aptera -- or, more realistically, the regret I may feel if I somehow wasn't happy with it and found myself thinking "oh geez, if only I had spent my $26k on ________!!"

Because if not for a car as special and relevant to my personal values as the Aptera, I would NEVER EVER EVER spend $26k on a brand new car. I currently drive a 1999 Corolla that my parents bought (as a new leftover in 2000) for around $10k, and I am very very happy with it.

The next car I'd buy would most likely be (or have been -- fingers crossed!) another Corolla, because it really does fit my lifestyle quite well...for being a gas-powered car made by a giant corporation. And it's really affordable for middle-class incomes.

So anyway: what could possibly fill in that blank above?

I did a cursory look via Yahoo's car shopping page and searched by price range ($15-$35k), fuel economy (25-35 mpg), and year (2009). These are the cars *I* would actually consider getting if I had to shell out up to $26k.

What results did I get?

Listed by price, from cheapest:

1. 2009 Toyota Corolla Base 5-Spd MT
$15,250
30 mpg

2. 2009 Toyota Matrix Base 5-Spd MT
$16,190
28 mpg

3. 2009 Toyota Camry CE 5-Spd MT
$18,720
25 mpg

4. 2009 Toyota Camry XLE 5-Spd AT
$25,150
25 mpg

5. 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid 4-Door Sedan
$25,350
34 mpg

(I'm amazed the hybrid Camry costs only $200 more than its original version. Weird.)

Anyway, if Aptera somehow ends up falling out of favor with me for some inexplicable reason, one the above -- really, more likely, just the Corolla -- will probably end up getting my cash.

blathering as usual,
Amy

p.s. I forgot to mention that aside from buyer's remorse, another thing I often think about is simply "At $26k, what is the Aptera going up against?" because besides the Corolla (har har) I have no CLUE about the general prices of cars -- whether by genre (luxury, sport), country of origin (German, Korean), or whatever, you know. Like if I told someone about the Aptera and said it would retail around $26k, I often wonder if their brains are thinking "wow, that's like buying a Mercedes!!"

Well, okay, it's probably not, price-wise, but you get the idea -- I was doing the Yahoo car search to get a better grasp of what $26k gets you in the brand-new car business.

[GCustom]

Amy take a look at the Honda Fit and Civic too.

[butter]

Ooh, nice. Of course I've heard of the Fit (and the CIvic); weird how it didn't pop up in my Yahoo car search.

I'd suppose that Honda's efficient, compact cars are pretty closely synonymous with the small Toyotas in terms of price and efficiency. But if it were down to cheap, efficient, safe non-Apteras, I wasn't really looking to consider something outside of Toyota's clutches. Yes, they've got my brand loyalty, and they've got me good!!

[GCustom]

They had me for a while, but I've got a bunch of small issues with my Prius that put me back to being a shopper.

But if Toyota comes out with the next Prius before the Apteras get released I may have a problem, (one of which being that I work for a Honda dealership.) Hopefully Honda has some new hybrids lined up to do battle with Toyota's.

The thing that has me torn between the typ1e and typ1h is that I spend most of the year out of the service area, but both suit my needs perfectly.

[butter]

(one of which being that I work for a Honda dealership.)

Oooh... sticky situation, indeed!

[catmando]

There's also the VW Jetta TDI that gets 50+mpg. A fun car to drive too.

[butter]

But does it also fit my price parameters (less than or equal to the Aptera)?

Also, if it's diesel, California probably won't allow it.

My general impression is that the VWs that look fun to drive are a wee bit on the pricier side (this is coming from a Corolla driver, mind you)...

Cheap cheap!
Amy

p.s. Okay, I looked it up and saw that current Jettas are similarly priced to the Aptera 1e...

[GCustom]

I had a chance to drive the petrol version, it is a fun car to drive. Diesel scares me though (pehaps irationally so).

[catmando]

But does it also fit my price parameters (less than or equal to the Aptera)?

Also, if it's diesel, California probably won't allow it.

My general impression is that the VWs that look fun to drive are a wee bit on the pricier side (this is coming from a Corolla driver, mind you)...

Cheap cheap!
Amy

p.s. Okay, I looked it up and saw that current Jettas are similarly priced to the Aptera 1e...VW took its diesels offline in 2006 until they could meet Cali regulations which they now do. The new Jetta TDI is about the same price as the Aptera hybrid(at least in Texas it is). Might be a little higher in Cali.

[Brian]

They had me for a while, but I've got a bunch of small issues with my Prius that put me back to being a shopper.


My main issue with the Prius is that it is the ugliest car on the road. So ugly in fact that I would rather throw 4 dollor a gallon gas in my Mustang until my Aptera is built. And it looks like that is about to happen. :cool:

[GCustom]

I agree, but I'm what the industry calls an 80 percenter, if enough things are good about the car I'll overlook up to 20% of things I don't like about a car.

[windfinder]

I drive an 07 civic hybrid and love it. Test drove the prius twice before going with the civic. Drives great, rides great, about 45 mpg average.

I also think we should really consider where our money goes when we buy a vehicle. One forum memeber wrote he wanted to "Stop supporting our enemies by buying gasoline"
Some of our economic competition is supported by our purchases also.

Honda and Toyota both have production plants in the U.S. but ALL of Toyota's hybrid drive trains are built in Japan.

Most of the US car companies are not much better than the Japanese ones, a lot of the components in GM, Ford and Chrysler vehicles come from overseas.

THAT IS WHY I LOVE THE APTERA. BUILT IN THE USA!

[GCustom]

I drive an 07 civic hybrid and love it. Test drove the prius twice before going with the civic. Drives great, rides great, about 45 mpg average.

I also think we should really consider where our money goes when we buy a vehicle. One forum memeber wrote he wanted to "Stop supporting our enemies by buying gasoline"
Some of our economic competition is supported by our purchases also.

Honda and Toyota both have production plants in the U.S. but ALL of Toyota's hybrid drive trains are built in Japan.

Most of the US car companies are not much better than the Japanese ones, a lot of the components in GM, Ford and Chrysler vehicles come from overseas.

THAT IS WHY I LOVE THE APTERA. BUILT IN THE USA!
I get about 60mpg in both vehicles.

Not only is the Aptera built here, the profit also doesn't go overseas either.

[Chupacabra]

I wrote a blog about this recently on my Myspace.

I own a Corolla currently also and I love it. Inexpensive, gets me around, "enough" style due to intelligent reasonable decisions about color, tinting, and wheels that makes it resemble a more expensive car, reliable, and Toyota name backing it.

I would never, ever own or recommend a Jetta to anyone after my 2 year experience owning a 2001. Just say no! :)

I have never considered the Prius or other hybrids. My Corolla cost me $14k new. A prius would've cost me 12 grand more. At an average price of $3.00 gallon (since I owned the vehicle from late 2004 onward) and a maximum MPG of 30 city/highway combined, I will have driven my Corolla for ~120,000 miles (($12,000 / $3.00) * 30 Avg MPG) whereas if I had spent the same money ($14k + $12k in gasoline) on a Prius, I would have driven... exactly 0 miles. Plus the overall MPG isn't that much greater then the Corolla.. an extra 18 or 20 MPG. The Prius is what I would refer to as a lifestyle choice right now. It doesn't quite make financial sense, but its desireable for other reasons.

The Aptera is different enough that it warrants a purchase. I take frequent road trips and the 300MPG and 600-700 mile cruising range of the Typ-1h will be outstanding for me. Not to mention I'm actually doing something for the planet. Plus I think it'll be kinda cool to own one.

Chupa

[LQUAN]

If Aptera vehicles are built by Toyota or Honda, I don't think the price tag would be $26,900 - it would be far less provided that their plants are already outfitted for making composite car shells. ICE cars have thousand of parts. Toyota and Honda pretty much have the reliability issues nailed despite the complexity of their ICE cars. I have never thought of paying more for less (or simplicity). But I am willing to pay more for less headache and being unique. I trust composite material as much as metal. In a high impact accident, I don't think being in my Toyota Matrix is any safer than in an Aptera.

[Dilekz]

My main issue with the Prius is that it is the ugliest car on the road. So ugly in fact that I would rather throw 4 dollor a gallon gas in my Mustang until my Aptera is built. And it looks like that is about to happen. :cool:

The prius ain't ugly.. well maybe its my european taste.. but:
The ugliest car for me is .. fiat multipla :)
http://www.channel4.com/4car/media/100-greatest/03-large/40-fiat-multipla.jpg


But for an aptera buyer... When you buy a mercedes or BMW. for like 26.000 dollar. You have alot maintenance and expensive gasoline.
A aptera will cost alot LESS then 26.000 compared to a mercedes or BMW.
Because it will cut cost in gasoline and maintenance..

See it as a investment. It will pay you back later!

[drivin98]

The prius ain't ugly.. well maybe its my european taste.. but:
The ugliest car for me is .. fiat multipla :)


Whoa!!! You can sell something that looks like that? Holy crap! :eek:

[butter]

heheh.. it looks like it has a double chin.

[LQUAN]

It looks like two cars got fused together. Talk about UGLY.

[Brian]

The prius ain't ugly.. well maybe its my european taste.. but:
The ugliest car for me is .. fiat multipla :)
http://www.channel4.com/4car/media/100-greatest/03-large/40-fiat-multipla.jpg


But for an aptera buyer... When you buy a mercedes or BMW. for like 26.000 dollar. You have alot maintenance and expensive gasoline.
A aptera will cost alot LESS then 26.000 compared to a mercedes or BMW.
Because it will cut cost in gasoline and maintenance..

See it as a investment. It will pay you back later!

I still think the Prius is ugly but good god, this thing takes the cake! :eek:

[MarrInLA]

The Aptera cannot be compared to ANY gas car! It's apples & oranges!
FOR ME, the whole concept is to stop supporting the military industrial comcept, stop supporting the Iraq qar, stop polluting the environment & thus polluting our bodies...EVs are looooong overdue en masse. Killing the EV1 was a crime & we have to make up for lost time....I can't wait to see a ton of these on the road! We really need to push to get charging stations everywhere, QUICKLY.

[GunnyD]

Amy,

None of the hybrids on the road today get a fraction of the promised mpg for the typ-h.

Think $10 gal gas and recompare, (not far off imho)

I have been involved with ev's for many years. I have a ev sailboat, my own modification. http://www.evalbum.com/278

I don't think about resale either. makes you crazy

Dave

[onugs]

Amy,

None of the hybrids on the road today get a fraction of the promised mpg for the typ-h.

Think $10 gal gas and recompare, (not far off imho)

I have been involved with ev's for many years. I have a ev sailboat, my own modification. http://www.evalbum.com/278

I don't think about resale either. makes you crazy

Dave
I agree. The quoted mpg of any major is a farce, drop their clams by at least a third.

[Brav]

There's also the VW Jetta TDI that gets 50+mpg. A fun car to drive too.

+1 this is what I would suggest for max mpg and a cheap car.

[A1phaGeek]

I built a spreadsheet to do just this type of calculations. It allows for adjustments to down payments, gas prices, mpg, monthly payments, I already input it with both Apteras and most of the current high mpg cars for comparison.

By my math including fuel and loan, I would save 4-8k per year verses driving my pickup truck (which is paid off so no monthly payments) by driving the Aptera.

Doh, I just tried to upload it, but Excel files are not allowed. Message me and I will email it to you.

I'll try upload it to one of my websites and post a link to it soon.