Help looking for a newer car?

I'm currently driving a Dodge Neon that is coming to the end of its life. I really like how it handles/drives, and how small it is. I'm looking for another car since mine is about done for. I have tried and like the Dodge Dart, but have heard many bad things about it, so its not an option(plus out of price range). I also have found that i like Honda Civics. I know that they have a very good reputation, but a friend of mine said her husband has one, and its not the best in the winter because it is so low to the ground. We live in Minnesota, with some pretty bad winters, so i need something that will be able to tought be throug. Plus, I drive about 45 miles each way to work.

So any thoughts on eighter the Civic or any other car suggestions (smaller, sedan) that would maybe work for me. Need something reliabe and fairly affordable. Looking to buy used (2010 or newer) for under $15000 hopefully (only saying this because any type of luxury vehicle is out of the question. I have been told an Audi, but could NEVER afford one)

Audi is not known to be reliable and the cost of repairs is huge… So whoever is giving you advice doesn't know much about this type of thing… Sorry.

The civic is really a good option from a reliability and maintenance cost perspective. You also should consider the Mazda 3 as they have had excellent reviews over the past several years and the most recent models have been given lowest overall cost of ownership in their class by Kelly blue book.

Ford Focus would also be a good bet.

I live in Ontario and we get our fair share of snow, I had a civic one year and found that it didn't do too bad in the snow if you had a good set of snow tires on it but in really deep snow it would tend to ride up on the snow and the belly of the car would sit on snow so your wheels wouldn't really get traction. But small cars are all pretty low so on bad days you either need a truck or you wait for the plows…

I suggest you test drive a civic, a Mazda 3 and a ford focus and go with the one that feels the best to you. When you budget your purchase make sure you budget in the cost of winter tires and whichever car you pick will do just fine.

Another reasonable option is the Toyota corolla but I personally find them like the civics, a bit over priced for what you get.

For $15K you should be able to pick up a lightly optioned, 1-2 year old Mazda3 or Civic (or a variety of other compact sedans) if you aren't pressed for time and can shop around. The latest model Mazda3 handles great and I liked it better than the Civic personally in just about any way you can compare them.

If your Neon was able to get you through the winter weather, then the Mazda 3 (or the Civic or any other newer compact sedan) will be no worse,

My wife shopped around for a compact sedan to commute to work (I tagged along) last year and ended up buying a Hyundai Elantra with a manual transmission and few options brand new, not used, for $15K before taxes at a no-haggle-pricing dealer. She liked the Elantra's better warranty, lower price, and softer ride as compared to the Mazda3 and Civic, but if it would have been my daily driver I'd have probably bought the Mazda3 because it handled a lot better when driven harder (something she rarely, if ever, does). I can't complain about the Elantra's fuel economy (it gets 35mpg city and we've seen 44mpg highway on cross country highway trips) or its ride, but if you're looking for something more "fun" you'll probably prefer the Mazda3.