Car Recommendations

[DSpencer]

Not exactly news, but there's lots of discussion about cars and I'm hoping the community can help me out. Likely within the next year my fiancé (or by then wife) will want a new car. Does anyone have any recommendations given the following:

1. Will be paying cash and would like to stay around $25,000. Less is obviously better, but we could afford more for the right car.
2. She'd prefer an SUV but will accept a car. Minivan is a no-go. She'd like to sit up higher, have more storage and have 4wd, but none are necessarily deal-breakers.
3. Must have a backseat for a car seat.
4. I'm lobbying for a good mix of practicality: Safety, Cost, Fuel Economy, Reliability. (Always easier to want these things in someone else's car).
5. New is preferred but slightly used will also work. She has a 2003 Jetta now so a 2011 model of something would still be a good upgrade.
6. Has owned a manual before and liked it but slightly prefers an automatic for convenience now.

[santafe2]

Re: Car Recommendations

Not exactly news, but there's lots of discussion about cars and I'm hoping the community can help me out. Likely within the next year my fiancé (or by then wife) will want a new car. Does anyone have any recommendations given the following:

1. Will be paying cash and would like to stay around $25,000. Less is obviously better, but we could afford more for the right car.
2. She'd prefer an SUV but will accept a car. Minivan is a no-go. She'd like to sit up higher, have more storage and have 4wd, but none are necessarily deal-breakers.
3. Must have a backseat for a car seat.
4. I'm lobbying for a good mix of practicality: Safety, Cost, Fuel Economy, Reliability. (Always easier to want these things in someone else's car).
5. New is preferred but slightly used will also work. She has a 2003 Jetta now so a 2011 model of something would still be a good upgrade.
6. Has owned a manual before and liked it but slightly prefers an automatic for convenience now.

Good luck with this one. After 30 years of marriage I've found that if your wife is being reasonable about what she wants it's best to offer a little guy advice and just support it. After all you've got the main point down, cars are things you pay cash for. Sounds like your off to a good start.

[GRG55]

Re: Car Recommendations

Good luck with this one. After 30 years of marriage I've found that if your wife is being reasonable about what she wants it's best to offer a little guy advice and just support it. After all you've got the main point down, cars are things you pay cash for. Sounds like your off to a good start.

Tell her that a beautiful women like her deserves to be seen in nothing less than a lipstick-red convertible.

Then let her decide what she wants. There's NO percentage in getting between her and that decision...

[lakedaemonian]

Re: Car Recommendations

What they said......but maybe worth showing some near future North America(current EU/ROW) stuff:

http://new.skoda-auto.com/en/models/Yeti/overview

I think they're closer to $30k USD equivalent down here....might be cheaper up there if they were actually available in your market.

Gets about 46mpg equivalent.

This or something like it I think could be a bridge to the future for many helping them to transition from the past to the future of personal transport, and seems to fit your criteria, bar cost(IF it were available).

[mercerbear]

Re: Car Recommendations

I just performed a similar search and based upon my research and first hand impressions, I would guide you towards a Kia Sorento or a Hyundai Sante Fe. They both offer a great value when you consider quality, trim levels, warranty & price points.

[flintlock]

Re: Car Recommendations

Compact or mid-sized SUV? Honda CRV is has great MPG and reliability. The KIA and Hyundai twins are hard to beat for value. Lots of choices out there but I've never been a huge fan of that car based SUV segment. Most , when you really step back and look at them, lack much "utility". Many have very small cargo areas and even smaller rear door openings. I can get more luggage in my car trunk than most smaller SUVs. Most in this segment are nothing more than lifted versions of station wagons with lower MPG and worse driving characteristics than an average car, along with a higher price. The larger sized ones like the Enclave do have more utility but MPG suffers.

The mid-sized sedan category is the most popular and by far offers the most value. Its a very competitive segment so prices are low and manufacturers keep upping the ante in terms of performance and features. You might be surprised just how good this segment has gotten and how cheap they are to own and operate. For example, you can buy a Hyundai Sonata SE Turbo with 274HP, bluetooth, and most of the bells and whistles people like for $21,000! EPA rates it a Large car. It was rated by JD power (for what thats worth) most reliable and comes with a 10yr/100k warranty. It gets 22/34 mpg. You will probably pay more for a COMPACT SUV and get lower MPG.
VW Passat and the new Mazda 6 are also nice choices. The new Accord is probably one of the best, if you dont mind seeing yourself coming and going every day.
I come from driving a large SUV so I understand the higher driving position is a plus, but thats about the only advantage iwith the smaller sizes. They make more sense if you live where 4wd is needed. But like others mentioned here, sometimes its best just to keep Momma happy.

[Polish_Silver]

Re: Car Recommendations

Not exactly news, but there's lots of discussion about cars and I'm hoping the community can help me out. Likely within the next year my fiancé (or by then wife) will want a new car. Does anyone have any recommendations given the following:

1. Will be paying cash and would like to stay around $25,000. Less is obviously better, but we could afford more for the right car.
2. She'd prefer an SUV but will accept a car. Minivan is a no-go. She'd like to sit up higher, have more storage and have 4wd, but none are necessarily deal-breakers.
3. Must have a backseat for a car seat.
4. I'm lobbying for a good mix of practicality: Safety, Cost, Fuel Economy, Reliability. (Always easier to want these things in someone else's car).
5. New is preferred but slightly used will also work. She has a 2003 Jetta now so a 2011 model of something would still be a good upgrade.
6. Has owned a manual before and liked it but slightly prefers an automatic for convenience now.

We have had a Toyota highlander SUV for 6 years, and are pleased with it. Nothing but routine maintenance.
Personally, I don't like SUVs or what they represent, but it's what she wanted. Gas mileage is not great, but we seldom go more than a few miles at a time.

If the "rear view night vision" system is not standard, it may be worth paying for. One of the few changes in recent years that really makes a difference.

[shiny!]

Re: Car Recommendations

Edmunds has professional car reviews plus owner reviews, as well as Specs and safety ratings for each model. It was helpful for narrowing down my choices when I was shopping for a new car a few years ago.

Click on the brand that interests you, then Model, then the Overview tab:

Edmunds New Cars

If you're a Costco member, they have an auto buying program that can help you get a low price from local dealers.

A piece of advice: If any car salesmen ask for your email address it's best to give them a throwaway address rather than your main one, because once you're on their contact list they will spam you for the rest of your life

[ddn3f]

Re: Car Recommendations

We have a honda pilot SUV, basically the same as the Toyota highlander. It is very spacious and fits the newborn carseat and all the stuff we could ever need into the back. Gas mileage sucks but at least it uses regular unlike the luxuary SUVs, but it was what the wife wanted as well with the newborn and all. She did not want a minivan. I bought a Honda extended warranty online for ~$1000 online (just google it), which was cheaper than any dealership would give it to us. The warranty basically gives us 120,000 miles and 8 years of hassle-free driving. Basically if anything breaks within that timeframe, they will fix it. We will probably replace this family vehicle within 6 years when those diesel-electrics come out and gas is at $10 a gallon.

We have had a Toyota highlander SUV for 6 years, and are pleased with it. Nothing but routine maintenance.
Personally, I don't like SUVs or what they represent, but it's what she wanted. Gas mileage is not great, but we seldom go more than a few miles at a time.

If the "rear view night vision" system is not standard, it may be worth paying for. One of the few changes in recent years that really makes a difference.

[jk]

Re: Car Recommendations

subaru forester, honda crv, toyota rav4, kia sportage.

[Fox]

Re: Car Recommendations

ugh, SUVs? Unless you go for a luxury model they drive like crap. I've never been comfortable in any of them. And the "Extra room" claim has always wrung hollow to me.

My first "non-handmedown" car was a Malibu Maxx. Which the wife and I bought particularly because it had MUCH more room than an SUV.

Now here's my thoughts on a new car. ONLY buy new if you plan on keeping it a long time. The logic here is pretty much nobody knows how or even wants to maintain their car. You'll only get longevity out of a used car by luck. Especially up here in Canada with salted roads and few people doing undercoats; because they don't keep their car more than 5 years.

I went with the new TDI Passat. Not a big fan of VW in general, but the 2012+ models drive great and have incredible room (more than all but the biggest SUVs I'm sure). The millage is phenomenal, 1000kms (625mi) per tank is typical for my in-city driving. I have yet to do a long distance highway trip that used an entire tank so I don't know what exclusive Highway mileage is like. The dealer has seen 1400km (875mi) on a highway tank but I think a properly broken in and driven engine can actually do better. Your Wife has a Jetta so perhaps you can get a deal on the trade in. I went for Manual btw because I wanted the better economy and lower maintenance cost. I'm looking for 20 years out of this puppy so transmission replacement cost is a consideration for me.

The next one I liked was the Altima. The new model is comfortable like you wouldn't believe and has good mileage for a gas engine. I also liked the sportier look of them, but sportiness is lost with the CVT. The performance is still there, you just don't get the "Vroom Vroom" out of them (Manual control of the Revs would go a long way to fix that)

My final short list entry is the new Mazda 6. I wasn't impressed with last year's model (it felt and sounded like a compact and not a mid size) but the latest model looks REALLY sharp. With good mileage and reliability its worth looking in to if they improved they way it felt and sounded on the road. (btw, my handmedowns were Buick centuries so I got used to a quiet comfortable ride. And at 19 years old, I got use to driving it to the shop a lot as well)

Things I seriously considered but scrapped were:
Sonata/Optima. Its a nice looking but cheap car, and its drive and handling show it.
Honda Civic: Boring Boring Boring.
Toyota Corolla: Honda Civic X2
Ford Focus: not bad but the Passat was a nicer ride and I really wanted the Diesel

Anyways, I hope I've helped save you some time and/or pain. It was a long process for me, so I like helping others when I can. The only final advice is take lots of test drives. Visit multiple dealerships and get them to fight between themselves, and buy something you feel comfortable and happy driving in even if it cost more. Car ownership is expensive no matter what you drive, might as well get some enjoyment out of it.

Good luck

[btattoo]

Re: Car Recommendations

It seems to me there are a lot of used higher-end used SUVs available here in southern CA. A friend of mine just bought a BMW X3 and shipped it to his brother in Minnesota. No salt on the roads here.

That said, get her what she wants -- good wives and mothers deserve it.

[don]

Re: Car Recommendations

We just bought my wife (note the 'we') a new Hyundai Elantra. She loves it and was initially impressed with the visibility. We're past the car seat era and she needed reliable, good gas mileage commuting. This is working - so far in-town is in the high 20s. Out the door was $17,000 and change. Buying new also maximized the 5-year warranty. Cash, naturally. (not completely true. the salesman broke into tears when I started to write the check and because I could tell from his knuckles he had boxed, I went through Hyundai's financing (under 3% and after an $11K down) for a few months so he could get the dealership kickback. Interest was 10 bucks a month.

[DSpencer]

Re: Car Recommendations

Thanks for all the input! There is a lot here I will have to digest. Although it sounds like the main point is "happy wife, happy life". Definitely a few ideas we hadn't considered. I bet she'd like the Yeti but is it even possible to get one in Ohio? Particularly without paying a fortune? Then there's repair work...

We've driven the Santa Fe as a rental and liked it fairly well. I agree with the questionable utility aspect, although 4wd is certainly a plus where we live. It's not like we live in the
Artic, but we get enough snow that at least a few times a year I wish I had it. It would also be nice if between the two of us we had something that could tow a small trailer on occasion. Of course in reality I could rent a truck from home depot a few times a year and probably come out way ahead.

[DSpencer]

Re: Car Recommendations

I'm also very on the fence about new vs used. I know that everyone says that only fools buy new but I've had a bad experience with a used car that was a maintenance nightmare. I certainly don't trust other people to take care of their cars. My current car is the first new car I've ever owned, isn't particularly known for it's reliability (Ford Mustang), and it's been going 6.5 years and almost 70k miles with no major problems. I got new tires once and I think they replaced some kind of part related to the steering for a couple hundred dollars, but other than that it's just been oil changes and gasoline.

Then there's the brand new car emotional component...