Thinking about buying a car
 

I've had my car for about 7 years now (it's 8&1/2 years old) and I'm thinking of getting something else. I like it, it runs & looks great, but it's a 2 door & not really practical anymore as far as the dog, fam & other stuff go. It's a Monte Carlo.

I'll be selling my car myself - I refuse to let a dirty dealer screw me out of $1000 or more to trade it in. I'm thinking of a smaller SUV (shut up, Diss) - I like the Jeep Liberty, Hyundai Santa Fe, Saturn VUE, etc. Used, preferably 2003 or 2004 (I'd go 2002 if the miles are low & it's in good shape.)

Any advice? Recommendations? Warnings? I've heard the VUE has lots of problems, so I'm leaning away from that. Jeep does a really thorough check on their "certified used vehicles" but I hear the Liberty is not a smooth ride. I've heard great things about the Buick Rendevous, but eh.

Don't know much about the topic - but my sister got a Nissan Extera (it is actually considered a small SUV) and she LOVES it - it's a great drive - not bulky and scary - and yeah - she enjoys it :)

So that's all I know :o

Good luck.

I drive a Hyundai Elantra, and based on how much I love my car, my mom got a Santa Fe. It's totally cute, really affordable, the gas mileage is better than a lot of similar models, and the warranty is great.

People don't necessarily think quality when they hear Hyundai, but I love my car, and at 50,000 miles I've yet to have a SINGLE problem with it (knock on wood).

They used to be absolute **** - but they've really gotten better - my sister got a Hyndai accent like when they first came out - that car was nothing but one big heap of trouble from day one :laugh:

Now though - I hear great things about Hyndai - :nod:

Well I'd say get something that's good on the gas mileage and is known for not breaking down all the damn time. I've had a Geo Prizm GSI since 1996. It was my first car and it's still tickin'!

Honda's are excellent cars too.

Yeah, they're so much better now. I have a 2002 model and have nothing but love for it. I was surprised when I started to research cars in that price and size level- the consensus was that the Elantra was the best.

I guess Kia's part of the Hyundai corporation- they've taken the baton for continued excellence in being ****ty.

lol - yeah my sister accent was a 1995 I believe - or 1993 - I don't know - either way - not a good year for Hyndai's!!!

Glad to hear the Elantra is a winner - I hope to not have to look for a car for a few years - but ya never know ;)

My friend had an Hyundai Excel back in '92. What a piece of **** that thing was. Good to hear they've improved. :p

I have issues with buying foreign. I've always had an American car. Actually, I've always had Chevy's. Actually, I've had 3 Monte Carlos & that's it. :o So it's a big decision for me. I don't know if I can do it, even though most "foreign" cars are now made in the U.S.

If you end up getting a SUV, avoid anything from Ford like the plague. My friend just bought an Expedition two months ago and has had nothing but trouble. Actually, I was just with her last night and the rearview mirror fell off. I mean wth?

My aunt has had a bunch of **** happen with her Explorer too.

I'd say Nissans are the way to go Paula!!! But you don't want to buy foreign. :(

I'm on my 3rd Nissan and my 2nd Nissan Altima. It's an AWESOME car. I've heard the Nissan Murano (their small SUV) is pretty decent. That's my next car, I think. But I just bought a new car in February so that's a while off for me.

Good luck!

My parents are looking--my mom really likes the Santa Fe, Chevy Equinox (the grey on grey is beautiful), Mercury Mariner, and the Kia SUV--we should have a new one by the end of the week. The Equinox has a great safety rating and all of them get incredibly good gas mileage (unless you go for the big guys). Good luck!

BMW now makes a really affordable SUV. Has anyone heard anything about these?

BMW is an excellent brand of car, and the x3 and x5 are very good SUV's. I wouldn't touch one though, cost way too much.

I trade cars pretty frequently, not on purpose... it just works out that way. Seems I've had EVERYTHING. The best one I've owned is a Honda Accord. I recently test drove an Eclipse and came very close to buying it, until I read what hunks of trash they are. The test drive was a little scarey.

Cars I've owned:

1 Chev Impala
1 Ford Ltd
1 Mercury Monarch
1 Renault Alliance
2 Honda Accords
1 Dodge Neon (3 days, gave it back)
1 Grand Am
2 Trans Ams

Test drove: Mazda Miata, BMW, Dodge van and the Eclipse

I say Honda Accord because they hold their value and will go forever if you do routine maintenance and not let them go to heck. Stuff doesn't fall off easily like the door handles and things.

Of course there are always lemons and you should do your research on the internet about the car you're looking at. (If you find a car you want to buy take it to a mechanic for a check if the car is used.) I found so much BAD information about the Eclipse, it was hard for me to believe how popular they are. One person said they're great little cars as long as you strip everything mechanical off that came from the factory and replace it all with after market. Sigh... I really wanted that car. :(

Anyway, good luck in your search!

Laura

Well, I do know that GM is doing the employee discount thing. Personally, I financed my car through a credit union and bought it on ebay for $5000 below blue book. It worked out quite well. It's still under warranty for another three years and the scheduled maintenance is covered by the manufacturer up to 30,000 miles. SUV's are going pretty cheap right now. I'd still advise against most of them. They have a high center of gravity and roll too easily and are just not safe in my book.
Good luck to you. :)

Actually, I've heard that the Elantra is supposed to be pretty good.

I had a Honda CRV which I loved and never had any problems from. We sold it to my husband's mother, and it is still going strong no problems. I have a Ford Explorer now, and my mom, dad, and brother have all had Explorers or Expeditions. None of us have ever had problems with any of them, and they lasted us a long time. :shrug:

That's a good point. Hubby does a lot of the maintenance on our vehicles too, and he's worried if I buy foreign he won't be able to work on it.

Really affordable? For who? I'm a nurse, dude, I can't afford a BMW! :laugh:

Thanks, though! :wavey:

I have a Jeep Cherokee Sport, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. its NOT good on gas tho so I am looking for a commuter car and I think either Toyota or Honda is the way to go, especially Honda, they get good gas mileage and they hold their value better than most any car Ive seen (in my job I have to do Kelly Blue Book lookups and I am constantly surprised at how much those cars are worth even as the years roll on!)

I thought there was a new BMW SUV where the price was really cut down?

Okay, I just checked. There SUVs start at $30,000... I guess what I meant to say is that for BMW they're affordable! There SUVs used to start at $50,000, so when you compare you are really getting a good deal! LOL

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmkay. :laugh:

More affordable compared to some other Beemers yes. I'll give you that.

I have a honda accord for many years, never any problem. Time for a new one, and I have looked at Honda and Acura. Mostly foreign parts, assembled in america. In terms of best buy for your money, the accord is great.

OK, I just had to pour $670 into the Monte :( . It's my own fault, had I had it checked out months ago I wouldn't have needed the shocks AND mounts replaced.

It's time to really start looking for something else while I can still get some $$$ for it.

Not that anyone cares, but it looks like the Jeep Liberty is out of the running. The motor is kind of loud & whiny. Mark doesn't like - are you ready for this - the dashboard. :rolleyes: There's almost no dash, it kind of drops straight down & this annoys him, apparently. Little details like cupholders & cubbies are usually my thing. Weird.

The Hyundai Sante Fe is looking better & better, but they're hard to find used cuz people like them & don't sell them often.

So, OK. That's that.

I agree with him, the dashboard can be a factor.

- Jake

All I know is, the next car I'm going to get will hopefully be a hybrid. My ex (with whom I'm still friends) has a Toyota Prius and it's effing awesome (and obviously gets great gas mileage). I'm pretty sure there are some hybrid SUV's out there, aren't there? I know the hybrids are currently expensive, but I'm hoping that my current car (a '99 Chevy Prism) lasts me long enough that by the time I want to buy a hybrid, they'll be cheaper and there will be more available to choose from (like maybe even fuel cells?). :nod: Also, the savings you get on gas may eventually offset the extra cost of the hybrid anyway, even at their current prices. :shrug:

The Kia dealership my parents bought their SUV from had two that were used (from trade-ins). Try researching on the internet through dealerships to see what they have in stock :nod:

:xoxo: They do indeed make hybrid SUV's. And, everyone's next car should be a hybrid!!

Good luck, Paula, at least you guys are taking your time with it and weighing the factors and all that. :)

Well, went to test drive a 2003 Santa Fe yesterday & walked out of the place with a car payment for the first time in 3 years. :o I am scared! I'm not in over my head or anything, but man it sucks to have another bill to deal with. Well, it was fun while it lasted.

It's silver, grey interior, 4WD, pw/pl, remote keyless entry, CD & cassette, lots of room. I am really excited about it - I pick it up tomorrow. Of course, now I have to hope & pray that my car sells real quick since they were only going to give me $2000 for trade - I can get at least $3500 privately, if not more, so I'm selling it myself. I also bought the extended warranty, so the new vehicle is totally covered for the next 7 years (or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.)

Yipee! :blob1:

Congratulations!!! :D

Well, i'm a car guy, so i have to chime in here....

Toyota, Toyota, Toyota... the most reliable cars on the planet; they get the best gas mileage of any car make on the planet; they are pioneering the use of hybrid technology on all of their vehicles; their customer satisfaction is the best of any other car make; and their warrenties are one of the best in the industry...

you cannot go wrong with a Toyota product :wavey:

however, honerable mention should also go to Honda (just as reliable as Toyota) and Nissan (a little more edgier designs than Toyota)

:lol: i guess i should have read your last post before responding... anyway Paula, enjoy your new car and good luck with it! :xoxo:

Yay !

I don't need a new vehicle yet. But I would buy a hybrid truck if someone made one. I heard there was one in the pike from Toyota. And the other day
I saw this Mercedes thing called a G500. It kind of looked like a WW2 German army jeep, but I kind of liked it. Not that I am ever gonna have anything but a truck - but it was cool.

Congratualtions, Paula. :woohoo: I just went through the same thing, no car payment for 7 years to having a car payment. The fear thing is completely normal. I went throught the same thing when I've bought real estate. It's completely normal. Just remember, it all works out in the end and I'm sure you'll be just fine. Most of all, have fun driving your new car!

congrats! Enjoy the new ride!

Thanks. I've moved on from fear to guilt. :( Did I really need a newer car? Hopefully by tomorrow guilt will blow out the window to make room for excitement.

You deserve the car. Nursing is a hard job. You do a lot for your community.