Help me pick a car

[Dave Gray]

My car just went through a pretty big maintenance session.  Now that the car is about 10 years old, I think this might be the last time I do considerable maintenance on it.  Next time, I think I'll be looking toward a new vehicle.  I'm looking for a good fit for me, but I'd like suggestions.

Here's what I want:
- A car that is about 2 years old
- 4-door car (probably a sedan)
- Good on gas (a hybrid would be cool)
- simplicity in engineering (I hate overdesigned gauges, compartments, use of computer panels when not needed, mechanical parts where not needed, etc.) -- This is a pretty big one.  I don't want to go super low-tech, like roll down windows, but I want sturdy, simple mechanics over stylized, sexy ones.
- An American Car is a plus

[Spider-Dan]

How far is your primary workplace from your home?

[Buddhagirl]

Jetta.

[EKnight]

Honda Civic. Great gas mileage and will run forever. -EK

[CF DolFan]

Just my two cents but I would buy a two or three year old Toyota or Honda. Easily can get 200,000 without major issues. We've had three Camry's , two Avalons, a Honda Accord and a Honda Pilot and have gotten close to, or over 200,000 on several without any major issues. While originally Japanese, these cars are made here in the USA. In fact Camry was named "Top American-Made Cars" by car.com this past year with Accord coming in third.

[Brian Fein]

I've been pretty happy with my Altima and the 2010's (and later) are pretty nice.  They also have a hybrid version.

[bsfins]

It's extremely windy,and snowing lightly...My mind is not thinking right...but...

My first thought jumps to (maybe why spider is asking his question) a Chevy Volt..

I'll say ...
Chevy Equinox

My out of left field answer...
Subaru outback or Forester - I was little shocked to see an article awhile back online about their reliability,and the low cost of the repairs.

[Sunstroke]

I'm with Buddha... The Jetta is a really nice car.

[Landshark]

I think Honda makes a Civic Hybrid. 

[Dave Gray]

My work is close.  ...about an 8 minute drive from parking spot to parking spot.

[Buddhagirl]

I'm with Buddha... The Jetta is a really nice car.

I'm on my second one and until I take the leap to get an Audi, I'll like stick to the Jetta.

[Spider-Dan]

Dave, if it's feasible for you to charge a car at your house, get a Volt.

If you drive less than 35 miles round trip, you can make your commute on full electric.  (If you are able to charge at work, you could potentially do your entire commute on the company dime.)

The Volt's a very highly accoladed car (certainly the most-awarded American car in decades) and, frankly, a revolutionary car.  You get the benefits of electric with the range freedom of gasoline.

The only things I think you might be concerned about are:

1) It is a 4-seater, not a 5-seater- the battery pack is an inverted T and runs down the center of the car, so your back seats are separated by a center console
2) Technology- the Volt has a lot of touchscreens and LCD displays, which may not meet your 4th criteria of simplicity

[Dave Gray]

I looked at the Volt.  I am not too concerned about the 4 vs 5 seats, but the LCD displays wig me out a little bit.  I'm afraid that those things are going to start failing after 7 years.

[Dave Gray]

I like the Jetta idea.  I did rent one and liked it pretty well.

Chevy also makes a car that I like....Sedan of some kind....

My parents always have Toyota Camerys.  I like the car, but recently, I find the inner workings to be "cheap".  The plastic is chinsey and everything seems kinda brittle.  It has a lot of compartments which bother me -- the kind that you have to push in so that they can pneumatically open -- stuff like that.  I have a feeling that my parents will have a lot of broken parts in a few years.

Their older model of Camrey was a horse, though.

[Brian Fein]

^^ that's all cars nowadays.  cheapy crap parts to save cost.