Cars!

[MrsK]

So, DrK and I will be looking for a new car around the end of the Summer, before we get to Wichita. He's presently driving a semi-reliable 2000 Ford Focus which he purchased at the time because (1) it was cheap, and (2) it was the only non-suv on the market at the time that had enough interior space for him to feel comfortable. This is the same car that spun out on the interstate last Winter so we've limited it to city driving since then. We planned to get rid of it before we go to KS and to pick up a new car once we get there -- at this point, the cost of shipping the car to KS may exceed the value of his car.

So, question. What should we get? We are not looking to spend a ton of money but we'd like something 4-door, automatic, safe, reliable, and that will "grow" with us. In other words, something we can drive for a few years and that will accomidate baby seats, kids, and all the stuff that comes along with a growing family. Also, DrK is a big guy and I'm a little girl so we've had some challenges finding something comfortable for both of us. Of course, he'll be the primary driver of this vehicle so his comfort is more important than mine.

[DCJenn]

If we were in the market, I'd definitely consider the Fusion hybrid. I test drove a regular Fusion at the Komen Race for the Cure event and it was NICE.

We have an Audi A3 wagon that we got for cheap because it was the floor model at the DC Auto Show and after it had 8000 people crawl all over it, they gave us a HUGE discount. My car is a Toyota Yaris. It's probably no bigger than your current car. It is the errand car because it gets such great gas mileage.

Jenn

[Vishenka69]

Don't know if you're thinking about an SUV but DH and I are considering a Highlander for the upcoming winter. We sat in tons of car at the recent autoshow and this was one of the most comfortable for both of us (I think our size proportions are similar to yours).

[MarissaNicole]

My suggestion for a sedan is the Toyota Camry - great gas milage and my experience with Toyotas has been great, they last forever!

My suggestion if you are looking for an SUV with great milage is the CR-V, if we move to a cold city we will look for one of these because they get 26 mi/gallon highway and have 4-wheel drive for the snow/ice. I have friends that have one and are very happy with it but I cannot speak from personal experience.

Both are midsize vehicles, not compact and not oversize.

[MrsK]

These are all great suggestions. The IL's asked if we'd looked into the Ford Fusion -- I don't think we have but we definiately will. The Highlander and CR-V may be good to. I think DrK secretly wants an SUV and I've heard that they are great for kids. I think we tried the Camry about a year ago and there wasn't enough headroom or something. I don't remember exactly. I know that we looked at a bunch of Nissan models about 2 years ago and none of them had enough headroom in the back seat -- in the event that FIL were ever a passenger in our car -- except for the Versa. I wasn't crazy about the Versa because it's so basic and I had trouble reaching things.

Keep making suggestions. I'm really interested to hear lots of recommendations.

[MarissaNicole]

Oh my IL's have a Nissan Murano and are happy with it - that might be another one to try.

[Meenah]

Nissan Murano!

[peggyfromwastate]

My sister has a Highlander. It handles intense weather well. (Snoqualmie Pass in Washington state-- you need 4x4 lots from Nov thru Apr).

The smaller 4WD probably wouldn't handle the really bad weather very well.

Camrys do well in snow and ice, though.

But I don't even know if you need 4WD? We don't need it at all here in the DC metro area- but if we move back to WA state we'll need it... I think in most places you don't need 4WD.

I don't know much about small cars. I've been pretty much stuck with Suburbans and mini-vans for forever...



DH drives a Camry but wants a hummer...

[SuzySunshine]

I love my Hyundai Santa Fe - it's an '04 so if you're looking for something newer I would get a Hyundai Tucson, it is more similar in size to what I have. It does great in the MN winters and the KS ones when we visit.

[Deebs]

I would second a vote for Hyundai. They just rated #2 in owner satisfaction by JD Power and Associates, after Cadillac. We have a Veracruz (probably much bigger than you need) and LOVE it. I went into this after an Audi Allroad, and was really nervous about it. It does not disappoint. Also, Hyundai has really worked to make their vehicles some of the safest on the road - their models have done great in crash test ratings. I don't know anyone that owns any of their sedans, but do know several people that own different sizes of Hyundai SUVs, and they're all happy.

[HouseofWool]

If you look at Hundayi's don't forget to look at Kia's. They are the same company. We bought a Kia Rio in October of '07 and I love it. It would be too small for DrK but for me at 5'9" and DH at 6' it is great. The Hyundai sedans were pretty nice.

[lirio]

We have a Suzuki SX4 Crossover.

We love it. We got it because it's an affordable all wheel drive. It's very roomy and comes standard with a lot of features.

[migirl]

We're also a Hyundai family. I drive a 2008 Santa Fe, and I love it. We've got 2 small children and a dog, and it's plenty roomy for us. We also went with the optional third row seating which - for now - is pretty useless since getting the car seats in/out of the car so someone can access the third row is a gigantic PITA, so we just keep the third row folded down and use it as cargo space.

However.

I'm now having second thoughts and wondering if maybe we should have jumped in and bought a minivan, just because we're thinking about having a third baby and I'm pretty sure we couldn't get a third car seat in the back seat. ~sigh~

[peggyfromwastate]

OK-- I'm interested in this thread b/c DH will need a new car soon-- he drives the Camry that has a lot of miles, and no he's not getting a Hummer even if he dreams of one... He needs a good mileage car for commuting-

So bringing it back down to smaller options- I know that MrsK originally mentioned they were looking at more sedans vs SUVs???

Any other recommendations besides Ford Fusion on the sedan side?

And MrsK, if your husband is really that tall, he may need the headroom of a SUV after all...

For a family car, in my experience getting baby in and out of a car seat is the easiest in a minivan by far. Way easier than an SUV.

[MrsK]

DrK is not so much tall as he is big. Just a really broad-shouldered guy. He wears a 20" shirt collar, his chest measures about 50 inches, and he is over 6' tall, 250lbs. I'm about 1/2 his size. When he last bought a car, there just weren't a lot of sedans that were comfortable for his bulk. I think that interior room has improved in sedans but he may want an SUV anyway.