My sis needs a new car. Now, I have to say that we've been GM people for a long time. We get a GM discount, my dad worked for GM for 44 years, my mom gets a pension from GM...
But, my sis wants a new car that's reliable and under $20,000.
She is looking at at:
Honda Fit (MSRP starting at $14,750)
Toyota Matrix (MSRP starting at $16,190)
Toyota Yaris (MSRP starting at $12,205)
Saturn Astra (MSRP starting at $17,045)
Now, she could get a Cobalt (yuck) for around the same price, or probably an Escort, maybe some kind of a Chrysler, but you can get a HONDA starting at $14750.
GM has a real problem here. You can't really, (please tell me if I'm missing a good car made by the Big 3), get into a good reliable car made domestically for the price of a Honda or Toyota. Nobody in their right minds is going to compare a Cobalt to a Honda Fit or a Toyota Matrix. The Astra is probably a nice car (hobbled though it is by one engine choice for the USA and a dealership network about to go kerflooey).
GM needs something besides the Volt if they are going to be competitive. They need a home run to compete for the under $20,000 crowd, and another home run in the $20,000 - $24,000. I'm sorry, but I don't see the lineup being there in the next year.
So, anyone out there in DKos land, point me to a new, reliable, fuel efficient Big 3 car in my sis' price range? If it is out there, I'd love to drive it.
Note, right now you can get a Civic Hybrid '09 for under $21,000, and the new Honda Insight is going to be starting at $20,000. WHERE is my domestic hybrid competition, damn it?
What do I drive? An '08 WRX. I could have bought a GM car for myself, or a Ford Mustang, or a Dodge, so I have no excuse. I'm a bad American, so beat me.