i have 6k for a new car.....

[BPTactical]

I had my doors blown off by a Prius going up Vail pass a couple years ago.

And you just admitted it on a male dominated forum

[JohnnyEgo]

When you are forking over $7k for battery replacement, a used Prius looks much less attractive. In a similar vein, I had a buddy who bought a 1980s Ferrari for $10K. Then discovered that the scheduled maintenance due was another $15K.

There are so many high MPG imports available that I would just go with the lowest mile 4 cylinder light car or truck I could find.

[Ridge]

And you just admitted it on a male dominated forum

A car that doesn't need oxygen to run is going to do a lot better in higher altitudes than one that does.

[rockhound]

you live in colorado and you are not looking at a true 4x4,

first you get insurance discounts for 4x4 and you will be a whole lot safer on the road,

something like this, room for the family, and camping, tow a boat and get home no matter the weather, a bit more than your budget, but I know the owner , I am sure you can work something out, no timing belts to change and 18-21 on the hwy depending on how you drive it hand calculated

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/3295273579.html

[Ridge]

you live in colorado and you are not looking at a true 4x4,

first you get insurance discounts for 4x4 and you will be a whole lot safer on the road,

Insurance also goes up because it's a more expensive vehicle.

And four wheel drive is not safer. What kind of cars do you always see upside down in the median after the big snow? SUVs.

[tmleadr03]

what should i get??my only requirements are.....reliability and gas mileage in that order. i would go for a vw diesel but somethiing is always breaking or just about to break on a german car.

i have been looking at the prius but battery replacement is pricey and the ones that i can afford look to be right at the age that there going to need that soon....the wife likes the chevy aveo cause we can get a 2009-2010 but there reviews are awful.

im not willing to finance so its gotta be something you can find on craigslist for 6k or less

Of all the VWs the diesel is the most reliable. And not just the engine. That said, you are not going to get much in the way of VW Diesel for 6K. Those hold their price dramatically. I just sold my 2003 for 1500 over blue book with 122 miles. And you do know of a good German tech, so even if something does break you should be good to go. ;-)

While I am not a fan of the Prius, you are stressing more then you need about battery replacements.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...9084403AABl3kl

Find one in the 2004 and later range.

[tmleadr03]

you live in colorado and you are not looking at a true 4x4,

first you get insurance discounts for 4x4 and you will be a whole lot safer on the road,

something like this, room for the family, and camping, tow a boat and get home no matter the weather, a bit more than your budget, but I know the owner , I am sure you can work something out, no timing belts to change and 18-21 on the hwy depending on how you drive it hand calculated

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/3295273579.html

I have driven in the winter for the last three years with a front wheel drive car and would pass SUVs and Trucks stuck on hills all the time. With all season tires, not even winter tires. 4x4 means nothing if you don't know how to drive.

[rockhound]

Insurance also goes up because it's a more expensive vehicle.

And four wheel drive is not safer. What kind of cars do you always see upside down in the median after the big snow? SUVs.

that is not true, anyone who cannot drive can wind up upside down, it has nothing to do with the vehicle, it is usually the subaru driver who are speeding in a snow storm, i have spent many a night rescuing many hondas, toyotas and one one occasion a 27k lb delivery van from the ditches, and my insurance absolutely gives a discount for 4x4

anyone who knows anything about driving in snow will know that 4x4 is much better for traction and control in a storm. to say otherwise is simply untrue,

under the same conditions and the same speed and same driver ability the 4x4 will have better traction and control, this one also has rear traction controls that enhance its ability in deeper snow

[rockhound]

I have driven in the winter for the last three years with a front wheel drive car and would pass SUVs and Trucks stuck on hills all the time. With all season tires, not even winter tires. 4x4 means nothing if you don't know how to drive.

and i have pulled many many hondas, acuras out of snow banks, front wheel drive four wheel and a decent driver will do fine, however, a front wheel drive vehicle will not get you home on my commute into the mountains and over three passes,

when the honda drivers have to stop due to weather, i do not.

i will challenge you any day to a snow performance and traction contest,

when my neighborhood has 3 feet of snow in it after a blizzard it is not the hondas clearing the road, pulling the neighbors out of snow banks and plowing neighbors driveways,

[funkymonkey1111]

consumer reports generally has an answer for this in their auto issue--what are the best cars for a particular price range. most libraries have a subscription you could check out