Time for a bigger car, alittle help please

[cgibson67]

Time to look for a new (used) car for the wife, wanted to get some suggestions.

Priorities……
Reliable, good in snow (wife’s from Houston, still has trouble in winter), reasonable (25+) gas mileage and cost of ownership but not a total econobox. Looking to spend 15-20k. Don’t like the small (or large) SUVs.

Currently driving a Civic coupe, which has been a practically maintanence free but doesn’t work with the car seat we started using in November . Is mint, but with 120k not sure what I could get for trade-in so may be selling private party.

I love my A4 and the Avant would be perfect, but just don’t have confidence of their reliability for cars in our price range. Mine’s left me roadside twice in the 3 years I’ve owned it….manageable for me, but not for her and a baby.

Like the Subaru, going to check out an Impreza and Legacy this weekend….2008 – 2010 with 30-50k seem to line up with our needs.

Volvo S40 looks very nice, unsure about longer term reliability and winter performance.

Ford Fusion seems like an option, although even though they’ve improved, they still just look like a nice rental to me

I planned to get in touch with Eric, but wanted to flush out exactly what I’m looking for first.

Any thoughts??

Thanks

[onewhippedpuppy]

Do you require AWD? That will remove a lot of cars from consideration.

[stomachmonkey]

Hard to go wrong with a Subaru.

[kaisen]

Newtown, CT??

I'm really sorry....

[Paul_Heery]

Chris,

I am on my second Impreza OBS as a DD and love the car. Very reliable. You may want to expand your search to MY2011 as well as the addition of bluetooth makes a big difference for me.

You should be concerned about room inside the car though with the car seat. My son-in-law takes my grandson to daycare in his 2009 Impreza and the front passenger seat needs to be pretty far forward to fit the car seat in. I'd recommend that you bring the car seat with you when you are looking at cars.

If you want, you can check out my car to see if things fit. I am right off of Exit 2a, a short ride away.

Paul

[LWJ]

5 series BMW with AWD. Touring or sedan. I just saw a touring with AWD for 16K. Looked fantastic.

Horrible that you are in Connecticut. The world is crying.

Larry

[cgibson67]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Do you require AWD? That will remove a lot of cars from consideration.

Wouldn't say required, but all things equal I'd take an AWD.

I've driven some FWD that are acceptable but nothing that comes close to my quattro. Just goes through anything.

The more I think this through, the more I like the Subaru.

Never owned a CVT, is this something to be worried about? I generally keep my cars a long time.

[froggert]

subaru redesigned the legacy for 2010. it has much more rear seat room than the previous version and if you get the cvt, much better gas mileage. the cvt is really good.

[kaisen]

I like Subaru AWDs as well. The 2010-up Legacy is nice, I wouldn't feel too good about the CVT, and a $15K 2010 is going to be ~60K miles. So I'd look harder at the pre-2010.

I live in the middle of the snow belt, Minneapolis, and don't think all wheel drive is as important as snow tires, ala Blizzak. In other words, a decent FWD sedan with Blizzaks is a WAY better winter car than the same car in AWD with all seasons. I drive a front wheel drive car through any and all winter conditions. I've owned all wheel drive cars (and trucks) too, and they're more fun. But not at all necessary.

If you decide AWD is for you, consider that more and more manufacturers are offering AWD, so think outside the box. Not just Subaru and Audi.

Example. 2006-2012 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln MKZ

Here's an example one that's offered right now for $15K:
2008 Lincoln MKZ AWD
3.5L V6 with 6 speed auto
Heated and cooled perforated leather, dual power seats w/ memory
HID Xenon projector headlamps
THX II audio system with SYNC (incredible sound!)
Moonroof
Chrome alloys on newer tires (8-9/32)
25K miles
Still under the 6 year 70K mile powertrain warranty (engine, trans, drive axles)











I doubt you'll take my advice on them, but they're good buys, have warranty left (where a Subie or Audi wouldn't), they're fast and fun to drive, get good gas mileage, they're smooth and comfy, and they've proven to be VERY reliable -- even Consumer Reports recommends them

And a car seat fits very well

[kaisen]

If you want to spend closer to $20K, you could get a 2011 new-body Fusion AWD with about the same miles

[911boost]

+1 on the Blizzaks or any snow tire. I DD a 1995 Mustang for three years in Minnesota with a set of Yoko snowtires and my wife had a front wheel drive accord with blizzaks. It would climb walls the traction was that good.

If you have room to store them in the summer a place for the other ones in the winter I would def reccomend FWD.

Suby's are good cars as well.

+1 on what Eric said, sorry.

Bill

[pwd72s]

A big plus on the used "luxury car"...very little risk of having been beaten on by a young driver. Odds are high that it was gently driven with service by the book.

[RWebb]

Subaru XV Crosstrek is a new one and interesting

Sube has the best AWD system and they are very good in snow

but full-time AWD means lower mpg than Toyo, Honda systems that try to sense wheel spin and THEN turn on the AWD, so that is the trade-off

Subes also have much better gnd. clearance than the others

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Newtown, CT??

I'm really sorry....

Yeah, no kidding. I saw that too.
I didn't know we had any Pelicans there... I can't even imagine.

[HardDrive]

Gotta vote Subaru

[kaisen]

What $20K looks like:

2010 MKZ, Ultimate, NAV/Tech, Sport pkg, 37K...under warranty to 50K all / 70K powertrain
This one is being sold wholesale by a Lincoln dealer in NE Ohio

[onewhippedpuppy]

I'm sure that MKZ is a perfectly decent car, but I just can't get past the fact that it's a Fusion with a Lincoln badge.

Some other newer, sedan, non-German, AWD options for $15k:

Acura RL
Acura TL
Infiniti G35X
Infiniti M35X
Lexus IS250
Lexus GS300/350
Mazda Mazdaspeed6
Volvo S40
Volvo S60/S60R

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I'm sure that MKZ is a perfectly decent car, but I just can't get past the fact that it's a Fusion with a Lincoln badge.

That you're paying Fusion money for, so who cares?
There's very little difference in price, used, between a loaded Fusion and a similarly equipped Lincoln

You get one year additional warranty. For that reason alone..... (oh, and the air conditioned seats are really nice)

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by kaisen

That you're paying Fusion money for, so who cares?
There's very little difference in price, used, between a loaded Fusion and a similarly equipped Lincoln

You get one year additional warranty. For that reason alone..... (oh, and the air conditioned seats are really nice)

I know, I just hate what Lincoln has become. They're Cadillac 10 years ago, with a lineup of warmed over Fords that really aren't any better. But you're right, the A/C seats are awesome. No more swamp ass!

[kaisen]

So as not to upset the Pelican Gods......


2009 Subaru Legacy 3.0R Limited AWD

3.0L Flat-Six

Every option, incl NAV

16K miles

Located 50 miles from Newtown, CT in upstate NY

<$19K