Buying a Car

[MDPhDWife]

Well now that DH's car is likely totaled, we're on the market for a car. He'll get my 2002 Accord and I'll get whatever we buy. We haven't bought a car in over 8 years and truly I have no clue of what class of car I'm even interested in! Here's what I do know:

-I want to buy, not lease

-Used, not new to avoid taking a such a big depreciation hit

-I want something as fuel efficient as my accord, at least 25 MPG

-I hated how it was always a struggle buckling a 3rd car seat in the back of my Accord whenever we had one of the kids' friends with us, so a little more room would be nice.

So I'm thinking a Crossover or Mid Size Sedan would fit the bill. I've only ever owned Hondas and have had incredible luck with them, but I'm not opposed to switching makes.

Suggestions?

Also, we're moving to AZ in 3 months, so should we suck it up and just buy when we get there so we don't have to worry about transporting the car during our move? Is it true that cars can be cheaper in AZ than NM?

[ides]

Well, it might be a good idea to wait but it depends on how soon you will need one when you get there & how doable these last few months will be with one car. I love my Subaru Forester. I've also had VW's which drive well too. You are welcome to give my car a test drive if you want to check it out. Well, it's not the best on gas since it's a heavier/larger car than your current ride. It gets 22miles per gallon but 18 when I run the a/c all summer long. I bought it used off craigslist for 6k shortly before we moved here when I came to visit for a week. Craigslist worked well but you need to be ready to jump on a car when you see one you might be interested in. VW's get better mileage I think but it really depends on the size weight of the car when it comes to gas mileage.

[GrayMatterWife]

FWIW, if you have only ever owned Hondas, you will be disappointed with the comparable reliability of anything else. They are dull and a dime-a-dozen, but there is no other maker that comes close in consistent reliability.

I'd go with a Honda SUV.

[Deebs]

I'm envious that you don't have to worry about snow. I'd start looking at true cost to own combined with gas mileage and go from there.

[spotty_dog]

When we shop for used cars, we start with our budget and what we need from the vehicle (like your list of characteristics here) and narrow it down at least to a class of vehicles and preferably to a few makes. Then I go on edmunds.com and read reviews, especially "best of" lists for that kind of vehicle (ie. "best minivans" or "best family cars") and then reviews for the specific makes -- paying attention to whether there's a significant difference between model years. From there I start scanning the ads. Local classified, craigslist, and online dealer inventories. Once I know what's available at the price I can pay, I whittle the field and target my research more carefully. When we've narrowed it to just a few vehicles, we test drive, take the car to a mechanic if it's a private party and/or doesn't carry a dealer guarantee, dicker, and buy!

[v-girl]

My Town and Country gets great mileage -- it has that flex fuel feature. We had a great experience buying at CarMax. No pressure (they are paid salary, not by commission), no rush. They get a lot of rental cars, which is what mine was.

[ladymoreta]

Words can't express how much I love my minivan! We went with an Odyssey.

[Thirteen]

I'm with ides. I love my Subaru.
*cough cough*


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[MDPhDWife]

FWIW, if you have only ever owned Hondas, you will be disappointed with the comparable reliability of anything else. They are dull and a dime-a-dozen, but there is no other maker that comes close in consistent reliability.

I'd go with a Honda SUV.

This is precisely what I was worried about. The CR-V and the Pilot are both highly rated, but I'm not particularly in love with either's aesthetic value. Silly I know, but I would like to at least enjoy looking at what I spent so much money on.

[GrayMatterWife]

Aesthetics fade and beauty is fleeting...and both mean little when the car won't start, the transmission is shot, the AC is half-assed or crap starts falling off at 60K.

I have a Town & Country 2008--which I own only because we were able to buy it for $4K at 6K miles. It had been my mom's company car when she retired. So, it was a very good buy, but I hate it. HATE it. I am sure that if I hadn't had Hondas before, it's be fine. But compared to my previous Hondas, crap goes wrong with it constantly. It is little things (like the headlight bulbs constantly going out) to bigger things (just spent $500 to fix the AC). And it handles like cold molasses and has no "fun to drive" factor. Ugh.

I WISH I had an excuse to dump this car. But it has only 60K on it. I would buy a Honda Pilot in a heartbeat. My parents each drive one and are very happy. Not BMW or Acura styling, but they are reliable. And they have third-row seating option, which I want.

[ides]

Subaru's are as sturdy & reliable as a Honda. Just sayin.

[GrayMatterWife]

Subaru's are as sturdy & reliable as a Honda. Just sayin.

I've heard that, too!

[Michele]

I don't like SUV doors with kids. That's my big vote for a minivan.

That said, I loved my Mazda 6 wagon. And I got 3 carseats in the back.