car shopping:(

[JoB]

Ok.. i am a bit more grumpy than usual.

i have been new car shopping. nuff said.

i don’t want a new car but the trusty old rolling kennel is developing increasingly difficult problems and i want a trustworthy car i can head to the hills in..

i know this car has given me good service.. but i think if i have to have a new one i should get something more than what i already have for my money.

AARGH! Who knew finding that would be so difficult.

this quest has led us on a merry chase through every maker of car to find something that suits the needs of a 6″4″ long legged man whose back is less forgiving than it once was, 2 dogs and all of their stuff and a now very crotchety little old lady with chronic pain issues.

we want good gas mileage. we want fun.

and we aren’t the sort of people who will pony up the down payment for a starter home to get it.

this may be an impossible task

i thought i had found the perfect compromise in the Hyundai Elantra GT until i got in and out of it a few times trying different upgrades on :(

my poor hips rebelled :(

hubby may have to settle for slightly less fun:(

at this point, any input would be greatly appreciated.

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[Bostonman]

I can’t give you any advise on what kind of car to buy. I can only provide what I have as a recent experience in trying to buy a used car.

Specifically we were on the hunt for a minivan. With 4 kids nothing else worked. We had our mind made up that we were going to buy a Honda anfer lots of consumer report recomendations. What we found when we started searching was a market that was loaded with older model cars and prices high above blue book. For the newer model’s with 40k miles they were asking only about $4k less than a new minivan. Ultimatly we deicded to just buy a new one because rates were .9% at Honda which is like borrowing free money.

Long story but I am in this market to some extend in that we have a joint venture with GMAC. The used market has been destroyed by the economy for people looking to pick up a used car. People on average are keeping cars for 10 to 11 years now instead of 4 or 5 years like the mid 2000’s. The lack of available credit to all but the most credit worthy has forced people with lower credit scores into the used car market by force. This results in no inventory in the market or at least no inventory on desired makes and models. GMAC expects this to be the case for another 3 years is what they tell me.

To further back that up my wife owned a 2002 Mazda protoge she bought 4 years ago for $7k. We listed it and sold it for $4800 after we bought the minivan. The amortization on that is $45 a month. 8 years ago I would have been lucky to get $2500 for that same car yet it was sold in 2 days.

So, a long winded story that in the end tells you nothing you wanted to know. I just had a few minutes until my next meeting.

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[clark5080]

Try a Honda CRV I like mine

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[skeeter]

Ha ha this post made me chuckle. I absolutely LOVE shopping for new cars. I often go with a friend who is in the market just because I enjoy it so much. The test drive. The negotiations. Saying no to the rustproofing for an extra $400. I can’t get enough!

The compact SUV/crossover segment is extremely competitive and therefore the consumer has the choice of some truly excellent vehicles. I recommend you check out the Honda CRV, Ford Escape, Chevrolet Equinox, and Mazda CX-5. Throw in the Subaru Forester if you like, too.

Man, I wish I was in the market for a new car. I never get tired of test driving. Please let us know what you decide to get!

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[sw]

Skeeter is on the right track. My in-laws went through a painfully arduous new car selection process, eventually landing on a new Ford Escape. They had a similar laundry list, and are very happy with their purchase.

Another consideration is the Seattle Auto Show, which is November 14-18. Virtually every make and model sold today is there on display. You can sit in the cars and check their specs, greatly narrowing down your hit list. Then Skeeter can go test driving with you and hammer out a deal.

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[EmmyJane]

Jo – my family lives for Camrys. My tall dad (6’2″) fits in it. My husband with a bad back is comfy (good lumbar support). The hybrid has good gas mileage (and the regular decent). The sports edition is fun (ok, maybe not fun like a BMW, but more sporty). If my dog could talk, she would tell you the back seat is very comfortable with a lot of room and the window is at a good height for sticking her head out the window.

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[datamuse]

I prefer Toyota myself, but a couple of my friends have a Hyundai CRV and really like it. (They have an Elantra too, and no wonder your hips complained—that car is built really low to the ground.)

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[CMP]

I rented a new Ford Escape recently and it wasn’t that bad, although I wouldn’t say the driver’s seat was terribly comfortable after driving around for 1 1/2 hours straight. It took a little getting used to the controls since I’ve always driven Japanese cars, but I definitely appreciated a lof of little touches that my Subaru doesn’t have. My parents just went through the same problem (mom has bad hips, dad is tall) and they chose a new Outback b/c it has good ground clearance for ease of getting in and out. Oh, they also bought through Costco. Not sure if that saved a ton of money, but my dad was pleased with the savings. They also have a 2002 Highlander and like that, but the new models are ridiculously large and may be more car than you need…the Rav 4 seems like a better option.

The car show is a great idea, but I think it’s best to spend some time behind the wheel to really determine comfort. If you have time, you should call rental companies for a day rental to test out a car. I rented from Thrifty last and reserved an SUV but much to my surprise, I got to pick whatever SUV was on the lot which is cool. Hence the Ford Escape. Not all rental companies offer that choice, but I really appreciated it with Thrifty! Good luck and it sounds like Skeeter would be a great resource for haggling!

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[miws]

Jo, have you checked out the Buick Enclave?

Saw an ad on TV for it, and it struck me as a possibility.

Mike

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[Escondido]

Check out the Toyota Rav4. My brother, who was 6’4″ also, bought it because was so comfortable for him. Because of the height of the car, it is super easy and forgiving to get in and out of. Feel safe it it as the visibility while driving is very good too.

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[JoB]

I think we are going to go for the Hyundai Elantra GT..

We will see how it all shakes out when we talk numbers today..

and i am going to do some work on how i get in and out of a car.

although it is low to the ground, in the lowest position the seat is 24″ high which is actually higher than most chairs… so it is doable.

We sat in and test drove nearly every car mentioned here.. and narrowed it down to the Mazda CX-5 and the Hyundai Elantra GT…

largely because of seat comfort for both of us and decent performance with good gas mileage.

I will admit that i lusted after the Mazda CX-5 and it was a close run until i found a Hyundai Elantra GT that had the upgrades i wanted from the packages without the package price…

I may be a raging liberal politically but i am a penny pinching fiscal conservative in the old school sense when it comes to money.

Value for my dollar matters.

I think i can purchase the Hyundai Elantra GT equipped the way i want it at roughly 2/3 the cost of available Mazda CX-5s.

What’s a girl to do?

I want a bed big enough for the dogs and hubby and I and my computer is just about as cranky and unreliable as the car…

if i save on the car i can get all three.

not to mention the benefit of increased core strength as i work on getting in and out of the car without putting so much torque on my hips and knees…

thanks for the input

i feel so much better now that i have sort of made a choice..

it’s not easy going from a high end minivan to a somewhat compact car… i think a lot of my lust for the Mazda CX-5 came from the ease of transition.. i got most of what i loved about my minivan and better gas mileage…

perhaps this will be a good step towards my goal of learning to live small ;-)

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[Bostonman]

I think an important question to ask is do you think you will sell this car in the future or drive it until it dies? Does resale value matter?

I like the Mazda’s and Honda’s. Not a big fan of Toyota.

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[skeeter]

Hyundai is making some fanstastic vehicles these days. I suspect you’ll like it a lot.

Good luck and let us know what you decide!

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[manhattan93]

We lease our Mazda CX5 6 month ago and absolutely love it ! The mileage is 25mpg , not more than that. We prefer to have one at Mazda Everett, they have more benefit. Find Frank Weiss, he is a good one ! Good luck with your car shopping !

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[JoB]

Bostonman..

that’s just it.. i drive my cars till they die.

my minivan isn’t dead but it does have 180,00+ miles on it and has had recurring electrical problems lately:(

i had hoped to drive it another two years…

but am beginning to rely on AAA more than i would like

it’s not that it’s stranded me .. yet.. but if it does i will have those two not so friendly shibas in my car :(

that could be ugly

miles matter to me more than resale and i want mileage .. so for the first time in my life i am looking at new..

manhatten.. thanks.. i did check out the everett dealers..

and if i get the mazda i will head up there..

if i can’t get the deal i want on the hyundai the mazda will be back in the running for sure.

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[clark5080]

What is the problem with it JoB could be a lot easier cheaper to fix it up than buy a new car

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[sam-c]

ugh… we are in the same boat. husband has been reading and re-reading consumer report and other car review magazines.

we’ve narrowed it down to a subaru impreza 2.0i sport premium (we looked at forester, but impreza has better gas mileage). my husband is tall also, and he has been in and out of the impreza, and likes it. the subaru crosstrek also just came out (Oct 2012). we haven’t seen it yet, but it sits higher, so maybe easier to get out of if you have difficulty. the cars have folding down back seats with hatchback- for the dogs.

I wish we didn’t need to get a new car. stupid fancy computers in these cars cost $1000 to replace. (based on the issues we’ve had with this car -11 years old now-, I would like a ‘new’ car so that we know the entire history of the car)

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[sam-c]

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[Irukandji]

I’d go check out a Certified Pre-Owned Lexus 300 or 350. I got mine used in 2003, then passed it on to my mom when we moved into the little Volvo. It’s running well on just its routine maintenance, is comfy and very safe. If you take the suggestion seriously, compare prices with what’s on the lot in Portland. Same vehicle, $3k less, and all I had to do was take the train down.

Good luck!

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[kootchman]

Bugatti.. I love my lil ole VW… lower profile cars will generally get better mileage. Since my daughter has laid partial claim to it … and my unwinding in and out is a bit slower… the one option I regret not getting, is an electric drivers seat… electric up and down makes getting in and out easier. Plus.. it’s got that German “thing”… handles great , I’ve hit 130 mph no sweat and even at 75 mph that 5 cylinder rolls out a good 34 mpg.. I can squeeze the 38 mpg at legal speeds.

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[JoB]

Irukandgi..

my dream was a volvo..

but my budget said no.

the mazda didn’t get the kind of gas mileage i would have had to have to justify the price difference…

so i bought the hyundai

i didn’t go to Portland for the deal

but the car i got did come from there :->

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[JoB]

clark5080..

the recent repair bills are what made hubby insist that it was time to replace my car…

someone younger with mechanical skills and no problem dogs needs to own that car now..

i suspect it still has a lot of good miles left in it

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[miws]

I’ve hit 130 mph no sweat and even at 75 mph that 5 cylinder rolls out a good 34 mpg..

Please tell us that these speeds were not reached around here.

Perhaps the VW was purchased directly in Germany, and you drove the Autobahn? Or, perhaps, this occurred in Montana, on one of those highways that had no speed limit?

Perhaps the 130 was “just to see what it could do”. I did that with my ’67 Beetle, back in the mid ’80’s. Got ‘er up to 80-85 for a few seconds on SR 12, out of Olympia, heading to the Ocean.

But, you’d have to had hit 75 on more than one occasion, to determine that MPG.

Mike

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[EdSane]

For overall price and utility I am a fan of the Jeep Patriot. 4 cylinder efficiency with optional 4wd. Also available with a manual transmission .

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[JoB]

EdSane

i learned to drive in a jeep… love them

in my heart i am braving dirt tracks in the wilderness in my trusty jeep

and i did… in what seems like another lifetime

but was really only 30 years or so ago

i now settle for paved roads.

hubby hopes they will have cell phone reception…

i am not quite so picky ;)

thanks everyone for your assistance and support.

Who would think that a scarred veteran of the car business would get so stressed out over buying a car?

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