Welcome to car talk! I have no idea what car to get

[rgG]

I think the Subaru might fit the bill for you
I have two friends who have them and both would and plan to buy them again

I just went through this same snake dance about buying a new car and it’s a pain.
I don’t have the same criteria as you, so the car I bought wouldn’t be a good fit, but I think the Subaru others have mentioned would be.

[Lizabeth]

rgG wrote:
I think the Subaru might fit the bill for you
I have two friends who have them and both would and plan to buy them again

I just went through this same snake dance about buying a new car and it’s a pain.
I don’t have the same criteria as you, so the car I bought wouldn’t be a good fit, but I think the Subaru others have mentioned would be.

I second Subaru. It's only my second new car and I will be driving my 2023 Forester into the ground or it becomes too expensive to repair. Buying used going forward is going to be almost as expensive as buying new.

[chopper]

Buying any Audi after your (normal) experience with a VW would be like jumping from the pan directly into the fire. Do NOT. The repair bills are even more outrageous.

Buy a normally aspirated Lexus--used, on CPO or whatever Lexus calls their used with warranty. If you can't swing that then a RAV4.

I squeezed two teenage farm sons into mine with the wife. It wasn't super pleasant but it worked. The RAV4 has, I think, 160k miles on it now and no issues. I change oil and filter every 3k, air filter 5k. I've done brakes on it 3-4-5 times all the way around.

[Lux Interior]

mattkime wrote:
What does being mad get me? I just want to move on.

Or, you could let the anger fester into madness and post in every forum about how VWs are the worst cars ever made.


But your attitude is much healthier.


A friend of mine just replaced a VW Passat that had 350,000 miles.

[mattkime]

chopper wrote:
Buying any Audi after your (normal) experience with a VW would be like jumping from the pan directly into the fire. Do NOT. The repair bills are even more outrageous.

I'm well aware, and tempted, but no, the repair bills are not more expensive because of the logo on the car. I guess I can't speak to the billing rates at the VW/Audi dealership but I go to an indy shop anyway. The suspension is a bit different otherwise its extremely similar to my previous car.

Lux Interior wrote: A friend of mine just replaced a VW Passat that had 350,000 miles.

...and this is why I don't want to overindex on my recent very negative experience. Aside from the spark plug breaking, the car ran like new.

[special]

So how much would a new engine cost?

Or an engine from a scrap yard?

Maybe it still makes sense to fix it?

[dk62]

Mazda CX-5 turbo is great, CX-50 seemed too small (low) for me (I am 6'3").

But Outback would fit the bill nicely, as many have said. Or, if you want to go cheaper and a somewhat smaller, Crosstrek.

[mattkime]

special wrote:
So how much would a new engine cost?

Or an engine from a scrap yard?

Maybe it still makes sense to fix it?

I was quoted $13k to install a new engine. That might be a "we don't want to do this" price but I've struggled to find another shop to do the work. It takes a particular kind of shop thats willing to install a used engine and there aren't many around here.

[A-Polly]

Have you tried driving a Honda CR-V? Here's a hybrid version in my area, but even the non-hybrids get decent mileage.
https://www.secars.com/details-2023-hond...07990.html#


I'm Team Volvo myself, but understand you don't want to go there.

[mattkime]

A-Polly wrote:
Have you tried driving a Honda CR-V?

I did years ago, I should give it another chance. I shouldn't make decisions based on decade old experience.

A-Polly wrote: I'm Team Volvo myself, but understand you don't want to go there.

Do you think I'm making too much of the reliability concerns?