Kia Rondo Replacements

[Bob]

After some more reflection over the weekend, I am still leaning Vsport. Assuming I don't have a finite time window in which to make my purchase, I think this works well. Even if I currently had approval, I wouldn't buy a Vsport today because I believe they are still in the steep part of the depreciation curve. I guess my strategy for now is to sit back and wait for prices to fall. I think my current target would be to get a Vsport Premium with a reasonable amount of mileage (maybe 50-60k) for somewhere in the mid-$20k range. The bottom end of the base Vsport market seems to be around $30k give or take right now, with the Premiums going for $3-4k more on average.

[Bob]

2014 Vsport Premium with 38k for $30,645: http://www.perrysburgautomall.com/Vehic ... 2947128893

That's a little more like it. Unfortunately it is in a rust belt climate (Toledo area) and has had front plate installed.

[kevm14]

While I understand your concern about the rust belt, the car was driven only 38k in that climate, less if you count seasons. Switching to your climate should do a lot to basically stop further corrosion. I don't know how much of a concern this really is. Especially if it was washed at all, garaged or even if it has any real rust in the first place in such a short time.

[Bob]

I guess it's not a huge deal, but cars that have lived their entire lives in the south are super clean underneath. The greater Detroit area is also exceptionally bad for corrosion.

Remember, I removed the original O2 sensor on my old Civic Si with normal hand tools when the car was 10 years old and had over 120k on it. I also replaced the suspension and reused every bolt. That kind of thing just doesn't happen on northern cars.

[Bob]

All else being equal, I wouldn't buy any car from north of Virginia. Of course, if there's a good discount for a car from up north, I might consider it.

2014 Vsport Premium with 59k for $30,716 in the Bay Area. That would be an epic drive home. Realistically, my search radius is probably places I can drive home from in a max of 1.5 days (allowing 0.5 day for a flight there and transaction).

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... lCode1=CTS

[Bob]

2014 Vsport at a Cadillac dealer in Texas with 50k for $30k: http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... lCode1=CTS

[Bob]

Carfax shows a minor damage incident in 2014. This was a lease car.

[Bob]

I'm still monitoring SS pricing too: https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/deta ... /overview/

2014 SS with 16k for $27,900 in PA. For sale by private party. Has a bunch of Holden badging that I honestly could do without.

[kevm14]

I like the badging. It actually legitimizes the car by making it obvious that the car is not like a Malibu or Impala - it has nothing at all to do with those cars.

It's not like it's riced out with a windshield banner.

Holden 4 LYFE

Ooh. Vanity plate. HLDN4LF

[Bob]

I would actually prefer not to have another car where I have to answer "what is that?" questions. I'd rather people just think it's a Malibu and move on

The low mileage is a good sign that it may not have been winter driven in PA.