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+--- Thread: Random thoughts / planning to buy a car (/showthread.php?tid=202325)
Random thoughts / planning to buy a car - mattkime - 02-28-2017
Me and my fam are looking to move from the weird world of nyc transit to Madison, WI. We will need to buy a car, a used car. Two adults and a toddler.
I think the first choice we need to make is whether to get a small suv or a sedan. I'm leaning toward Honda CR-V in this class of vehicle. It seems plentiful and practical. It would roomy. 4 wheel drive and higher ground clearance are nice but not necessary. Maybe I should consider a RAV4 hybrid?
Maybe we should consider a Subaru Outback.
Buuut maybe we should go a bit smaller than that. Perhaps a Prius or similar vehicle. Once again, i'm trying to be practical. On occasion it would probably be a bit small. But for daily use it seems like plenty. Heck, I've never had a car. A smaller car will still feel like a lot of car....at least at first. I know that some people would straight up refuse to consider a sedan when raising a kid but...we're pretty sure we're not those people.
I'm curious how much time I should budget to buy a car. My sister had a good experience at carmax. Its my hope that I can keep it to a day or two. I don't want to put a lot of time into it and I don't want to spend forever looking for a deal. The alternative would be a monthly rental of a car but those look to be around $1,000/month. Not cheap!
any advice / opinions?
Re: Random thoughts / planning to buy a car - 3d - 02-28-2017
Toyota Highlander is a mid-size SUV built on a Camry (sedan) chassis. Drives like a sedan, but roomy for all your groceries and stuff. Roof rails on top or trailer hitch on back for bike rack. Highlanders hold their value quite well.
PSA: Be prepared to pay the bogus $10 SUV surcharge at parking garages (td) At least, that's what they charge here in NYC.
Re: Random thoughts / planning to buy a car - N-OS X-tasy! - 02-28-2017
Are you planning to have additional kids? If not, a smaller SUV should be find. I would suggest the Forester over the Outlook - it more closely matches up to the CR-V and RAV4 you mentioned, has plenty of interior space for the three of you, and has AWD in its DNA, which I think is a big plus for winters in Madison.
Re: Random thoughts / planning to buy a car - Bixby - 02-28-2017
As the owner of a 2000 CR-V, I've noticed the newer CR-Vs have gotten bigger on the outside but not bigger on the inside. You might also consider a Honda Fit. Would be cheaper than a CR-V and you're not giving up much interior space, but retain flexibility. would be ok for 1 kid in a car seat for sure. Not as nice for highway driving, but depends on what your needs are. And depends on if you're the type to keep a car forever, or keep for a couple years and then upgrade.
As far as buying, know how much you can spend and what you want. From there, it's not that hard, you just find what's available and explore your options, whether via carmax, independents or for sale by owner. If you know or have a trusted mechanic that you can use to check out the car, always worth it when buying used.
Re: Random thoughts / planning to buy a car - 3d - 02-28-2017
mattkime wrote:
I don't want to put a lot of time into it and I don't want to spend forever looking for a deal. any advice / opinions?
The biggest time suck ever is car shopping online. Go out for test drives. You'll know right away if the car is right for you.
Re: Random thoughts / planning to buy a car - Octave Doctor - 02-28-2017
A friend spent a couple winters in Madison. The Forester was fine for him.
Re: Random thoughts / planning to buy a car - mattkime - 02-28-2017
good advice. but would like to assemble a list of cars to look at.
oh, for what its worth, i'll buy in wisconsin.
I've taken a brief look at 'luxury' cars to see what people pay for....and i can't figure it out. (aside from a large symbol that says 'i spent too much money')
3d wrote:
[quote=mattkime]
I don't want to put a lot of time into it and I don't want to spend forever looking for a deal. any advice / opinions?
The biggest time suck ever is car shopping online. Go out for test drives. You'll know right away if the car is right for you.
Re: Random thoughts / planning to buy a car - DinerDave - 02-28-2017
If you are considering the Prius, but think it may be a tad small, check out the Prius V. A tad roomier, but still gets good mileage.
Just my 2 cents.
As other posters said, go out a drive them, looking online to compare can be good, but you still need to drive it to see if you will be able to live with it.
Dave
Re: Random thoughts / planning to buy a car - 3d - 02-28-2017
I would venture and guess you can't go wrong with Toyota, Honda or Subaru. Three showrooms will take a full day. Ohh,,, Also keep in mind what type of gas the car takes. Stick with a car that takes regular gas, this being a "deals" forum and all
mattkime wrote:
good advice. but would like to assemble a list of cars to look at.
oh, for what its worth, i'll buy in wisconsin.
I've taken a brief look at 'luxury' cars to see what people pay for....and i can't figure it out. (aside from a large symbol that says 'i spent too much money')
[quote=3d]
[quote=mattkime]
I don't want to put a lot of time into it and I don't want to spend forever looking for a deal. any advice / opinions?
The biggest time suck ever is car shopping online. Go out for test drives. You'll know right away if the car is right for you.
Re: Random thoughts / planning to buy a car - numbered - 02-28-2017
Yeah, IMHO 4WD/AWD is a must have in WI.
The Prii may be the world's worst snow cars, they get high centered going into average parking lots with snow. And they are so light that they can slide in any ice.
If you want to go smaller than the CRV/RAV/Forester small SUV, there are not too many AWD options. You might look at the Subaru Crosstrek (a raised Impreza.)
If you go small SUV, there are a number of Mazda fans here, and the ratings of the CX5 are good. I would put it on the list with the CRV, etc. for a test drive. (I also like the Highlander mentioned above, but I am betting "third row" SUVs will wait for more offspring.
You will be seduced by the dark side of the money, er....Force, and tempted to save the money and gas mileage that AWD "costs". Resist! You will be living in winter! And you are outdoors folks. It will be worth it when it saves your partner from driving into a light pole.