Battle of the rebates
 

If any of you have noticed there are a lot of manufacturers offering huge rebates on the leftover 2003. I happen to be in the market for one of these. the list of cars that I can buy are as follows:

Chevy Cavalier with 4000 rebate
dodge stratus with 4500 rebate
Ford Focus with 4500 rebate
Pontiac Grand Am GT1 with 4500 rebate
Chevy monte carlo with 5000 rebate

Unfortunatly I don't really like any of these cars. But what I was wanting to ask was, if any of you own these cars or know of which cars to avoid, I would love to know.

I think I am leaning toward the focus, its the least expensive with a good rebate and a decent looking car. My next pick is the stratus but it a few thousand more and poor gas milage.

From what I've heard the focus isn't a bad car. If it meets your needs, then go with it.

LSD

Stratus is basically an Eclipse in a differen't body. Same platform.. Personally, I'd stay away from it.

Any of the Chevy's are decent cars. Grand Am's are everywhere, people continue to buy them, must be a pretty decent track record, depending on where you live, the Monto Carlo is rear wheel drive, probably not the best idea if you have snow where you live.

The Focus would be my choice to. Ford has done amazing things in quality of they're vehicles in the last 2 years. The Focus has decent power, looks, and if an all-around fun car to drive.

Re: Battle of the rebates
 

go with the Pontiac Grand Am GT1, they got balls and the women love the car...LOL

Also easy to mod engine

Monte Carlo is actually front wheel drive. I'm not familiar with the Dodge or Focus, but I would take either the Grand Am or Monte Carlo over the Cavalier.

Yeah I read that the focus has had more recalls then any car in the past few years. Not sure sure about it. But I found out that it only has 2500 in rebates. I hate to say it but I actually am thinking of the cavalier. I really am not a fan, but I need to pay off a credit card with the rebate, plus I am leasing it so I need a car that has a decent residual. Which does not exist. But thanks for the help guys!

if the monte has a 3.8 engine....go with that one...it will be the most reliable of them all.

I think it does, I can't remember but they got some balls

I would avoid the cavy like the plauge...the focus is fairly popular...perhaps for good reason?

I wouldn't buy it, but thats just me :) Good luck!

the monte comes with your choice of engines, either a 3.4 or the 3.8 the 3.8 comes in the SS, it also comes supercharged for around 30K. Well I have driven the cavalier and it really does suck. So now I don't know what the hell to do. I think i am just going to ride a bike to work from now on. no insurance, gas, monthly payments. Now if I just lived closer then 15 miles I would be alright.

The first couple of years of the Focus had a lot of reliability issues, enough that Click and Clack would not recommend it. Since then, they say it is a much more reliable vehicle, and they recommend it on their show.

focus = done after 60k miles.
dodge products = avoid at all costs
chevy = most solid of your selection, but that's not saying alot
pontiac = fast, good looking, lots of gadgets, not entirely reliable

bottom line...you get what you pay for here. these cars are reasonably priced, but the cars you have described are of suspect quality, at best. of course the rebates improve the price/quality ratio, but i think you would be well advised to continue your search. good luck.

A Ford Focus with a 4500 rebate??? What does that make it about $17.99, shit I'll buy a car for 20 bucks.

and sell it for 20,000;)

my girlfriend has a stratus, it's not a bad car to drive...
rebate good for the svt focus? worth thinking about...