Help Alison Find a Car!
November 16, 2011 by Maurina
Alison Rosen, news girl from the Adam Carolla show, needs your help finding a new car. Head on over to usedcars.com/adam, check out some cars, then tweet Alison @alisonrosen (use the hashtag #pickacar4AR) or leave a blog comment with your suggestion. If your suggestion is cool enough for Alison, she’ll give you some props during a live show.
Oh, and we guarantee all our cars are bird-crap, crop-circle free!
Category: Fun Stuff
Comments
53 Responses to “Help Alison Find a Car!”
I think you’d have a lot of fun driving around town in a Mercedes Benz or a BMW.
My comment appears to awaiting moderation. My comments are usually pretty moderate, though.
Hi James,
I loved this comment!
Cheers,
Maurina Venturelli
Social Media Manager, UsedCars.com
Alison,
I have a 2007 Chevrolet Aveo hatchback that has been the best, most reliable car I have ever owned. It’s cute too.
Saturns are always good.I have some friends who absolutely swear by them.Reliable,low maintenance,good gas mileage.
Hey, this is Andrew writing from Kuwait with a used car suggestion for Alison Rosen on the Adam Carolla podcast. Alison, you seem like you need something hip that looks good and is low maintenance – he’ll, so do I if you know what I mean!!! Anyway, I’d recommend a certified Honda Accord Coupe in red or maybe pearl white. You can get by with the 4 cylinder but make sure you get the sunroof and aluminum alloys – can’t be slumming it out there in Cali! If you want to stick more closely to your family heritage, go with the civic V-6 loaded up model. You’ll look good and feel good about all that extra money you’ll have saved! Most importantly both of those cars are super reliable and as all American as my Mexican immigrant neighbors! Mahalo or however that thing is spelled! Andrew
Better yet,get a motorcycle license and get a Harley.
Check out the ford edge limited. It have been my favorite ride
Alison,
Practical for the long term sister, get a one owner used Toyota, have it fully checked out by a reliable mechanic and it will run 200K miles. There are 2.9% auto loans and present. Don’t let the Ace Man talk you into a fancy car you can’t afford to have fixed or has to be repaired at the dealership. Look hard at the mileage and cost of repairs over the long term.
Alison you rock, don’t get all into the LA car thing, you have more important things to spend money on like your retirement account! -Pris
I’d say a 2007-2009 Honda Civic Sedan. You can pick one up for a decent price. They’re super reliable. Pretty good stock sound system. Great gas mileage. I can go about 310-330 miles on a tank of gas, plus at current gas prices when I absolutely have to get gas or I’ll be pushing my car it costs about $42 which is cheap compared to the $96 it costs for my work truck.
Hi Alison,
To find a car for you, we need to start by first eliminating some cars that don’t fit your personality and lifestyle.
First of all, you are a heterosexual woman living in Southern California. That eliminates trucks right off the bat. Second, you are single without children – at least that you know about (insert sympathy laugh here). Thus no need for a van at this time (lucky for you!). You seem practical, so I would think that you want something fairly efficient, thus we can eliminate the muscle cars.
But you like to laugh and have a good time, so your ride should be fun to drive. Something with some pep, just not a sports car or something that requires a lot of maintenance. That would require money that you don’t have, at least until that massive podcast revenue starts coming in. You aren’t one to blend in, so I’m going to eliminate an American car. You are very cute, but don’t need to be seen, so I’m eliminating convertibles.
We’re getting close now. Do we go Japanese or European? I say European for you. Both are dependable, both relatively efficient, but you seem more traditional, like the European body styles.
Most important, your boss Adam will have to approve of the car. I’m going to recommend the Mini Cooper Clubman S. Adam likes the Minis, it’s slightly larger than the regular Mini, so you can throw your drums in it the next time you play. It’s the sporty S version, so it’s got some zip. It’s gonna last you for a while. Good resale value, and you can get them in several different paint styles and options, so you can stand out yet not flaunt it.
It’s the perfect car for you!
Best of luck to you and keep up the good work!
Wayne
Alison, You’ve got an old Honda Accord with a sunroof. Is that an option you use a lot or hardly ever, you do have very fair skin. That might be an option you don’t need. You have a good list of possibilities, and I assume you are thinking of a similiarly sized car as the Accord. So, take a look at an 09 Hyundia Sonata or the same year Ford Fusion. The Toyota Camry and Honday Accord are slightly higher priced for resale so take a look at an 06 or 07 Camry, Accord, or Nissan Altima. Is your new boyfriend in any way car oriented? Maybe he could go with you as you look at and test drive a handful of cars. If he’s not, how about another friend to ride along and bounce ideas off of. Take a cd and test the stereo in each car and test each power window and door lock. Look at each tire for weirdly unbalanced tread wear. Hold the steering wheel very loosely on a level road to test the alignment and brakes( does it pull to the right when you brake?) Best wishes to you for a happy and successful car hunt.
Your next car has three requirements:
1. Dependable and reliable
2. You have to like it.
3. Most important is that Adam has to think it is cool, which will cancel out the first two things.
You should mess with his head, though and have someone drive up in a Honda CRV, so you can hear him do 20 minutes on that topic again.
You can’t go wrong with a Prius, no one will know if you are rich/poor/green/ or don’t care!
Also, Adam talks abot Audi’s and nissans a lot, so check those out to see if you like. Keep up the good work, you are looking and sounding great!
ps. Be sure to check that the ac works fine and all the lights. Ask your friend to stand at the rear of the car when you start it up to check for blue or grey smoke. Most of the cars you look at will not have any of these problems but it’s good to know for sure.
Dear Alison,
As a young, attractive, up-and-coming professional from California (which has gifted us with such joys as HOV lanes, smog, latin drug cartel violence and a high auto theft rate), it only makes sense to purchase a sports car with a convertible top. I would like to suggest a 2006 or newer Mazda MX-5 Miata. They are relatively inexpensive used, return good fuel economy, aren’t horribly slow, and can be had with either an automatic or manual transmission. Some models even have power actuated metal hard tops! How cool is that? Very cool.
Also, the joys of having a convertible I’m sure would not go wasted living in The Golden State. If I didn’t live in a place where it was cold/snowing for a third to half of the year, I’d own one.
-Matt
Hi Alison I drive a ford focus. But i really love the 2007 Chevy Malibu we got for my wife. It still gets great gas mileage approx 38 mpg highway. No issues so far and just regular maintenance. I hope this has been helpful.
You don’t want a little car. You need a pimp mobile. Get a 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis or Crown Vic. Awesome car to cruise to Las Vegas, smooth ride, great acceleration, near bulletproof, and great fun at night making those idiot drivers thinking you might be a cop. No one will think of messing with Allison in this car. She can be the dominatrix of the highways she was meant to be! Don’t believe me? Ask Adam.
Alison, I think you should take a look at a Scion XB. I bought a purple one for my wife and it has turned out to be so fun that I made myself jealous. Plus, I think they actually made it bigger on the inside than the outside. Scion is on top in Consumer Reports’ reliability survey again:
http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/10/consumer-reports-2011-annual-car-reliability-survey-ford-drops-chrysler-rises-scion-leads.html
Good Luck! Get a stick shift!
Give a Mini Cooper a test drive. When my wife was looking for a car before we got married I took her test driving half a dozen cars. The Mini had her giggling the whole time. She got the car and I got the girl.
Mini Coopers are small, so are easy to park, get great fuel mileage, and are very capable. It feels as solid as big car to drive but is as practical as a small car.
Even Adam would approve.
Alison,
I would look at a Nissan Altima or Toyota Camry. 2006 or newer. Both get pretty good gas mileage and are reliable cars. My wife has a Camry and I have an Altima. Both are great cars.
Good luck in your search.
Allison you should get a Volkswagen jetta they’re small but roomy and its european the Aceman will give you some props
Alison you must get a 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI . Its sporty and has a great look. The Aceman can hopefully tell you that they are great handling cars that have some kick when you need it and are still comfy for that run to Vegas for the quickie wedding you’ve never dreamed about. Plus it is one of the highest rated cars for safety and that of course, is most important.
Used 2006 Audi A4 1.8T found at the site in mission viejo. Only 20,000 miles and $20K.
Looks like a cool luxurious car. Can drive with the top down or up if that’s how you roll.
She should go totally contrary to Adam AND get a super-reliable popular car: A beige Toyota Camry. What could possibly be more appropriate? How many times has Adam used this car as an example or analogy?
Of course she could really upset the apple cart and get a 1973 Vega or an AMC Pacer or something like that. Adam simply could not stop mocking any of those. Just don’t get a Smart Car or a Prius. There’s only so far she can stoop for the same of comedy.
I bought a used Infinity G35 coupe recently and LOVE it!
Pretty to look at, fast, and has leather and all the interior goodies you could want. (seat warmers even!) They can be had for 15k and up depending on year and mileage. A ton of car for the money. If you must have 4 doors it comes in a sedan as well.
Good luck!
P.S. You will be adorable in what ever you drive.
If you are looking for a smaller economy car that still has power and is reliability I would look at the Mazda3.
Good luck with the car hunt
Nobody will be blown away by my suggestion but if you’re not a car snob like Adam and are just seeking comfortable and reliable transportation then you should look at a 2011 Hyundai Sonata, Alison.
The car looks essentially like, well, every other mid-sized car that comes from our Asian friends so you’re covered in the style department. It’s got a ridiculous warranty so you’re covered in the reliability department. The 4 cyl. gets great gas mileage (35 hwy) so you’re covered in the green department. I cannot possibly know the size of your garage (so to speak) but I’d guess it will fit.
Buy one with a nice stereo, maybe navigation and leather seats and you’ll be able to impress Adam with your thrifty (you know what he means) purchase! Best of luck. -Bob
Used 2008 Audi A4 2.0 Turbo / $20,000
You live in california, so the awd probably isn’t so impressive for you, though who knows, maybe you cruise up to Taho in it in mid-winter, and it comes in handy.
That said, it’s a nice car, not overly stylized, but somewhat sedate in tone, yet has a kick for fun. It’s a 2008 model year, so it’s around 4 years on the road.
It’s not a boat, easy to park, and doesn’t scream, hey, look at me!
Down side, it’s a 2008 and already going on third owner? Something to consider. Maybe a lease return, and next owner wants to move up to a minivan?
Seller is:
Dch Toyota of Oxnard
Oxnard, CA 93036
For the love of benji Alison!! The right car for you would be a Lexus SC430 convertible circa 2002-04. Still looks like current model, Lexus quality and you can drop that top in seconds to let that so cal sunshine in. Love the show, good luck on your search.
Chris
Howbout you get a car from somewhere that doesn’t make you bleep out swear words?
hey i suggest a chevy cobalt ss, or maybe a bmw 3 series, or maybe a nice audi a4, all good quality dependable cars, relatively low maintenance cost.
Alison,
I think you should get a Hummer. I am a big fan of Hummers. Since you are single, it could help you get a man too!
I can’t think of any of my guy friends that don’t like Hummers. In fact I hope I get one soon too!
-Ryan Kelley
Allison,
No matter what kind of car you get as long as its somewhat new its going to last for a long time. I bought a Scion tC several years ago and aside from normal wear and tear its a great car. It’s fuel efficient, dependable, sporty, and best of all you won’t break the bank, its very affordable.
Alison, go with a Toyota Camry or Corolla. I just bought a jet black 2009 Toyota Camry that looks awesome and will last forever. Camry’s and Corolla’s maintain their resale value and they have terrific track records for efficiency. Mine had 35 K miles on it and I got it for $15,250. It looks good, is not too large and is an automatic. Do it.
I suggest anything Japanese! Although I am a woman and don’t know much about much, I do know that the decision I made when purchasing all the cars (a whole 2, although one was bought for me :/ ) that I have, have a good sense of quality.
My first car was an ole’ 1990 Toyota Camry. It had around 180kish miles on him, but never gave me any hassle. I just put gas in him and changed his oil. I don’t trust those JiffyLube places, so I just do it myself. When the time came for the purchase of a new car (the Camry was hitting 300k) I turned to the brand that I trusted before and bought a Scion tC (Scion being Toyota of course).
I purchased a used one with 35k miles on him, and haven’t had a problem. Just the same thing as my Camry, put gas in him and change his oil. Although, I do tend to baby this one a lot more because it’s my first newish car where I actually have to dish out money every month on payments.
So, all in all. Japanese, baby! All the way!
Forgot to add:
As far as garage space goes, the tC is cute and small, if not deceivingly roomy in the backseat.
It has more pep than most 4 bangers, and is great on hills. I find it liberating that I can easily overtake or change lanes, no need to wait for someone to let you in, just downshift and make them let you it lol.
I also forgot to mention the year of my car is 2006 and is relatively cheap. I paid $12,278.
I get okay gas mileage taking in account that I drive strictly city going from one job to the next, I get an average of 25 mpg
I know California does really get snow (although of course when I left there, being born and raised in San Jose, it had snowed a bit.. after 30 years of it ever happening) this car is great in the snow! Front wheel drive = win! And it helps feed my love of snow driving by getting me going dangerously fast and is easy to maneuver!
It’s been mentioned a couple of times already, but the Mini Cooper S Clubman is an amazing car. Very sporty, fun, good looking, economical and with an automatic (which you specified you wanted) you even get cool paddle shifters. After listening to MANY Carcasts, it was Adam’s confessed love of the Mini that made me look at them. I’m 6’2″ and I know Adam’s taller and the Mini is surprisingly roomy for tall people. We just picked one up for my wife and she is in love with it. I’m a car nut, having owned Landcruisers, Hondas, Toyotas, domestic, japanese, etc. The mini is BY FAR the most fun daily driver we’ve ever owned. And, it will definitely fit in your garage!
I suggest a Saturn Sky….very fun and sporty car:)
VW GTI (2007 – 2010), fun to drive, great looking and practical. Get the 3 door hatch.
Alison,
While Nissans are nice, ignore blabbermouth Carolla for a second and consider an American piece of steel. I’m talking about a 2011 Chevy Cruze. You can get a nice, GM Certified Used, 4 door sedan that is comparable in size to what you have now….AND GET 42 MPG! Not to mention Bluetooth, USB, Ipod connectivity, XM, OnStar, and blah blah (blog). Anyway, you should see used ones in the $16-20K range. Maybe Larry Miller can co-sign on your loan…
-Coley in Montana : /
Allison, you are beautiful. That said, I think you should go with a Benz or a Beemer that has a diesel motor. Really, get any car that is a diesel, foreign or domestic, and fuel it with biodiesel. Made in America non-terrorist funding Uncle Sam approved clean burning and efficient biodiesel! It is not what you drive, it is how you drive it. Don’t just go for the upgrade in looks and performance, upgrade to something that means something more as well. Why not. Good Pod!
Scott
Alison,
First and foremost DO NOT buy a Honda or a Toyota or a Saturn or any of that soulless crap. I can recommend a 3 series BMW or a Mini Cooper. My 05 Cooper S has been nothing but fun and I know Adam would agree.
Volkswagen R32 alison. It’s an automatic, has paddle shifters, a 250 hp v6, All wheel drive, looks great in white and sounds like a beast. You dont mind that it’s german right? who cares drive one of these and you’ll love it.
Hi Alison.. I think as a fellow Alison, you need a simple, yet fun car. Just like our name, even though I feel most people make it more complicated then it actually is. Do you ever feel like your name is Alison with 1 L, when someone needs to spell/type your name. Anyways, I might be biased, but I love my little red 2009 Ford Focus.. I looks great, it is great on gas, and it is so comfy.. Good luck on your car search. Car searching can be such a hassle..
Hello Alison,
What about considering a used luxury sedan such as a Lexus GS, Infiniti G, Acura TL or Mercedes C-class. Something in the 2005-07 range will get you a really nice car with really good reliabilty. If you want a hybrid you could do a Honda Accord or Civic, Nissan Altima, or a Toyota Camry. If you want a Crossover, consider the Infiniti FX or EX or a Mercedes M-class. I worked in a high end / luxury car shop on mostly European and I prefer Mercedes over BMW and especially Audi. Nearly all Euro cars are expensive to maintain and the Japanese luxury cars are definitely not. Just my thoughts but something a bit different from everyone else I think is what you might like better.
Audi A4
It’s stylish, its practical and won’t draw any unwanted attention, nor does it blend in like another beige Honda or Toyota. They drive and handle well and have fantastic looking/feeling interiors as well. you can get a really beautiful example for $15k +or – a few grand depending on how many miles/options you go for. Adam likes Audi, thus you will get his approval fo sho.
If you do get scared off from a used Audi when someone inevitably brings up their higher maintenance cost, historic unreliability blah blah – then I’ll give you some other fine options:
Acura TSX (2009 +) or Acura TL (2005 +) These are really sporty, reliable, and plenty of fun to drive and easy to live with. Either one can be driven with little maintenance and trouble to 250K miles if you feel like it, or resell them 4-5 years down the road and you will make out all right on resale value.
Good luck !!!
Foreign..used MINI…
American…new Explorer
Thought you might enjoy:
Women’s top brands (with the percent of all buyers who were female):
MINI – 47.9%
Kia – 46.8%
Honda – 46.0%
Nissan – 45.5%
Subaru – 45.0%
Suzuki – 44.6%
Hyundai – 44.5%
Mercury – 44.4%
Mazda – 44.2%
Mitsubishi – 43.8%
Women’s top models (again, with the percent of all buyers who were female)
Volkswagen New Beetle – 60.6%
Nissan Rogue – 56.3%
Volkswagen Eos – 55.3%
Volvo S40 – 54.5%
Jeep Compass – 54.3%
Honda CR-V – 53.8%
Nissan Sentra – 53.5%
Hyundai Tucson – 53.2%
Toyota RAV4 – 52.7%
Toyota Yaris – 52.7%
Hi – what’s your budget? $20K ? I See Audi A4 mentioned above. Good / fun car. Do you want a soft top? Have ACE give you a Ferrari or Porsche.
p.s. the Infinity G Series is pretty nice / sporty
at usedcars dot com
Used 2011 Infiniti G37 Sedan Journey
Infiniti Tustin
Tustin, CA 92782
2 Door – I see a nice one:
Blue 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe 2008
$28,265
36,078 Miles Near CA 90210
I’ve been a Dodge girl for 30 yrs. I’ve gotten 200,000 miles out of the ones that didn’t get wrecked or sold, never been stranded, always start in the MN winters and I like how they feel. I’ve had a ’70 Charger, older Newport, Imperial, 5th Ave, Shadow, Acclaim, a couple Stratus’s… I had a Chevy Malibu once and hated it. It didn’t hurt my feelings that a 22 yr old girl got drunk, stole it and totaled it out. Did make for an interesting night though. Good luck!!
Hey Alison,
After careful consideration I think you should check out a Nissan Murano. Its stylish and practical. In addition, this car is very safe, which I know is the most important thing to keep in mind considering you’re the single most valuable asset to the Adam Carolla show.
I think it’s great that you’re asking listeners for advice. If you can afford it, there is no better suggestion that a BMW 3 series for you. Just make sure it’s an automatic transmission, (so you don’t have to learn to shift), and the standard straight 6 cylinder engine, ( no turbo or 4 cylinder). Perennial Car and Driver 10 best winner, hot looking, great handling, fun. Just get the newest one your budget will allow without over-optioning it. Sun roof & leather are a must. You can get 2 or 4 door, and 4 wheel drive if you want to go to the mountains on weekends. Slightly higher maintenance costs than the Hondas but much more fun to drive. Also Adam would approve, as he loves the M3, the rowdy cousin in the 3 series family. Cheers.