The Right Car for Me: fuel-efficient, 5,000 miles per year, safe inexpensive

I suspect you meant a maximum price of $8,000, not $80,000.

I don't know if you'll find the Elantra especially comfortable. It's probably not as smooth or as quiet as you're used to. Most likely you'll feel more comfortable in a car closer in size to your Century. Among mid-size sedans, the Ford Fusion and related Mercury Milan probably offer the best combination of reliability and value. Or maybe even the Lincoln MKZ.

Maybe a Hyundai Sonata or Kia Optima, but I'm a little leery of the pre-2011 cars' long-term reliability.

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There are a lot of older Buicks out there, I would consider getting another one. Very attainable and many choices in your price range. Models with the 3.8L v6 are best. Regal, LeSabre, Park Avenue.

A Ford Taurus (approximately 2004-2009) could work as well. Smooth cars.

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The 2000-2007 Taurus is a totally different car than the 2008-2009. We own the wagon version of the latter. Safe, but not terribly reliable, and to get one under $8k could involve a lot of miles.

The 2000-2007 is an outmoded design. Not a bad car, but far from current in many ways, including safety.

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@Mkaresh

Right, the 2000-2007 Taurus is the older one. I was thinking more in line with a direct comparison to the member's Buick Century. Tauruses in general seem to depreciate quickly and I'd think some 08s and 09s (the newer one) would fit their budget as well.

Fusion/Milan/MKZ are safe bets.

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fuel-efficient, 5,000 miles per year, safe inexpensive

Member6601

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2:43 pm November 26, 2015

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1:37 pm January 14, 2016