What's the best vehicle for my needs?

okylish

Thanks sebring.
I will definitely look into the Jetta TDI.

May I ask what 2-3 year old used vehicle might fit my preferences???

Thanks.

morin2

Upstate NY? Do you plan to drive from November to April? IMO, you should be looking for an AWD vehicle like a Subaru. Check out the Toyota Rav-4, Honda CRV and any Subaru. Consider which make has better dealer and mechanic support in your area. All will be better in upstate conditions and all will have high local resale value in 3 years. I would look new only because of the known rust problems in upstate NY. The AWD suzuki sx-4 would be a bargain choice - but will not hold its value as well as the others.

Either look for a place with internet pricing, or compare local dealer pricing with one that has it (such as FitzMall.com) and get local dealer to match internet price.

morin2

I considered a TDI and did a lot of calculations and analyses for my situation (108 mile daily commute). They make the most fiscal sense for those with long highway commutes who drive in excess of 25K miles/year. TDIs have held their values more than any other VW - but there is also a large up-front premium too. Diesels in general require long drives to break even vs the cost of gas vehicles.

I wound up with a new 09 Subaru Outback, well-equipped, for $5K less than a TDI wagon.

sebring95

I'd say a certified Acura TSX wouldn't be bad. More sporty than the Honda line and a little more unique...easily in your budget and should be reliable as a gem. There's a lot of other options, but that's the first that came to mind.

sebring95

Diesels in general require long drives to break even vs the cost of gas vehicles.


But once you take into consideration the resale value retention, then you're not really out much if anything. If' it's always worth $5,000 more than a Suburu outback....and while the difference may not be as great ten years down the road...it's not a bad bet for a 3 year old vehicle. Unless the market becomes flooded with other diesel options, the TDI's should retain a good chunk. The previous generations held their values better than most any vehicles on the market and got killer mpg to boot. I drove my '00 for seven years and 180k miles and sold for 50% of what I paid. That's about what my Tundra has lost in 4 years and 50k miles.

british_rover

I don't know about your state but in mine the TDI Jettas qualify for a sales tax exemption so you don't pay sales tax on the car. Plus you get the $1,300 sales tax credit from the feds so that eats up about $3K of your $5K right there.

This of course does depend on what state you are in.

Lots easier to eat up $2,000 in better mileage and the scheduled maintenance that VW now has then $5,000.

exb0

Be careful with diesels. Make sure that you there is a gas station that sells it on your daily commute route.

If I were you I would lease a CR-V for 36 months and return it at the end of the lease. It will cost about $300 per month with no surprises when you are done. Look here for current Honda offers: http://automobiles.honda.com/current-offers.aspx.

morin2

A little clarification: The new sales tax deduction is a federal deduction that applies even if you don't itemize on your federal 1040. It is based upon the amount of the sales tax that you paid - which differs in every state and is only for 2009. You pay sales tax to your state when you purchase the car, but when you do your taxes for 2009, there will be a line, and maybe a new form, to report the tax paid to your state, and then subtract it from your income - most likely on page 1 as an adjustment to income.

The federal credit is an alternative fuel credit, not a deduction (credits reduce taxes dollar for dollar while deductions only reduce by your max rate - so 25 or 28% for example). The amount of the credit is 1300 for the new TDI. Credits are reported on page 2 of the 1040, along with child credits, education credits, etc.

morin2

If not for the severe winters of upstate NY, a diesel would be a fine choice, provided you drove it enough for it to make fiscal sense. But if you plan to drive from Nov - April, AWD appears to be most prudent. When planning, I would consider:

1. what best suits my needs
2. then which retains value best (often, there is local preference & that influences local future demand & pricing - a subaru, crv or rav-4 will be worth far more in upstate NY in 3 years than one in the middle of the US, due to differences in demand and perceived usefulness and safety).

british_rover

I am not talking about the federal sales tax deduction. I am talking about how in CT vehicles over a certain mpg are exempt from sales tax period. The car just has to get over 40 mpg for either city or highway and can be new or used.

http://www.ct.gov/drs/cwp/view.asp?A=1510&Q=414408

The Exemption for Hybrid Passenger Cars: Purchases or leases of hybrid passenger cars that meet the following conditions qualify for exemption under Conn. Gen. Stat. §12-412(115). For all model years:

*
The passenger car must be a hybrid passenger car;
*
The passenger car must have a USEPA estimated highway mileage rating of at least 40 mpg; and
*
The sale must occur on or after October 1, 2004, and on or before September 30, 2008. Lease payments qualify for exemption for that portion of the lease term that is on or after October 1, 2004, and on or before September 30, 2008.

For model years 2004 or later, a hybrid passenger car is defined as a passenger car or light truck that draws acceleration energy from two onboard sources of stored energy and that is certified to meet or exceed the federal Tier II bin 5 low emission vehicle classification. The two onboard sources of stored energy in a hybrid car are an internal combustion or heat engine using combustible fuel and a rechargeable energy storage system. A motorcycle is not a passenger car and so purchases and leases of motorcycles do not qualify for this exemption.

Federal Low Emission Vehicle Classifications: The rule of thumb on the federal Tier II standards is that the lower the bin number, the cleaner the vehicle. Thus, Tier II bin 1 is a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV), the cleanest federal Tier II standard, while Tier II bins 2 through 4 are cleaner than the average standard and Tier II bin 5 is the average of the Tier II standards. Tier II bins 6 through 9, which do not qualify for this exemption, are not as clean as the average requirement for a Tier II vehicle.

Many automakers list the emission standards for their vehicles under the Vehicle Specs sections of their websites. Some vehicles have stickers or window decals identifying the certification level. All vehicles, however, have a mandatory under-the-hood label that identifies the emission standard(s).

Purchases and leases of the following hybrid passenger cars qualify for exemption under Conn. Gen. Stat. §12-412(115):

*
Honda Civic Hybrid for model years 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008;
*
Honda Insight for model years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006; and
*
Toyota Prius for model years 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.

and the non hybrids

The Exemption for High MPG Passenger Motor Vehicles: Purchases and leases of passenger motor vehicles that meet the following conditions qualify for exemption under Conn. Gen. Stat. §12-412(110):

*
The vehicle must be a passenger motor vehicle, as defined in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-1(63). A motorcycle is not a passenger motor vehicle and so purchases and leases of motorcycles do not qualify for this exemption. A passenger motor vehicle may, but need not be, a hybrid passenger car;
*
The vehicle must have a USEPA estimated city or highway mileage rating of at least 40 miles per gallon; and
*
The purchase or lease must occur on or after January 1, 2008, and on or before June 30, 2010. The exemption applies to lease payments for that portion of the lease term that is on or after January 1, 2008, and on or before June 30, 2010.

Purchases and leases of the following passenger motor vehicles qualify for exemption under Conn. Gen. Stat. §12-412(110) as long as the purchases and leases occur on or after January 1, 2008, and on or before June 30, 2010. Both automatic and manual transmissions of the models listed below qualify unless designated otherwise:

*
Chevrolet Metro (3 cylinder only) for model years 1998 and 1999;
*
Chevrolet Sprint (manual only) for model years 1990 (not the Turbo model), 1991, 1992, and 1994;
*
Geo Metro (3 cylinder manual only) for model years 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997;
*
Honda Civic (8-valve) for model years 1992, 1993, and 1994;
*
Honda Civic (EGR/2-VLV (FFS)) for model year 1995;
*
Honda Civic CRX HF for model years 1990 and 1991;
*
Honda Civic HB VX for model years 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995;
*
Honda Civic Hybrid for model years 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008;
*
Honda Civic HX for model years 1996 and 2002 (manual only);
*
Honda Insight for model years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006;
*
Mercedes Benz Smart Fortwo for model year 2008;
*
Pontiac Firefly (manual only) for model years 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1994;
*
Suzuki Swift (3 cylinder manual only) for model years 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1995;
*
Toyota Prius for model years 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008;
*
Volkswagen Golf/GTI (Diesel) for model years 1996 and 1997;
*
Volkswagen New Golf (Diesel) for model years 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 (manual only), 2005 (manual only), and 2006;
*
Volkswagen Jetta (Diesel) for model years 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 (manual only), and 2005 (manual only);
*
Volkswagen New Jetta (Diesel) for model year 1999;
*
Volkswagen Jetta Wagon (Diesel) for model years 2002, 2003, and 2004 (manual only);
*
Volkswagen New Beetle (Diesel) for model years 1998 (manual only), 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 (manual only), 2003 (manual only), 2004 (manual only), 2005 (manual only), and 2006 (manual only);
*
Volkswagen Passat (Diesel) for model years 1996 and 1998 (manual only); and
*
Volkswagen Passat Wagon (Diesel) for model years 1996 and 1998 (manua

morin2

All that is very nice for CT residents. Wasn't the question from upstate NY?

Here in MD, as in most states, there is no exemption or special treatment of any kind from auto state sales tax for any models.

british_rover

Yes it was from upstate was just offering a general info post.

The poster did say he was a law student so he could have residence in another state besides New York.

Upstate New York with all the snow would make a good case for AWD and subaru has some pretty good lease deals going right now. I think I saw Forresters in the high 200 low 300 range. I bet outback wagons would be about the same. Just have to figure out if it is worth the trouble to sell or trade in the car after three years or would it just be easier to lease. I bet the math each way would work out pretty close as Subaru leases seem to be constructed fairly well.

dave8697

I didn't know there was a 'sales tax credit' from the Feds. I thought you could deduct the sales tax on schedule A and if you are in the 15% tax bracket, you could recoup $150 of every $1000 of sales tax paid. Am I missing something?

morin2

Those are good points. This is one of those times when the mathematics of purchase vs lease should be considered. In addition, the person's comfort level with a future private sale or trade-in after 3 years vs a known lease return.

The OP did say that this would he his or her first car (somewhat remarkable alone considering how a new law student would be 21 at the youngest) and in driving those winters, a modern AWD really seems most prudent for a presumably less experienced driver.

morin2

The federal credit is for the alternative fuels. The TDI qualifies for a $1300 alt. fuels credit, in addition to the sales tax "deduction", or "adjustment to income" that you mention. The two can both be used on the same return.

morin2

Dave, schedule A is used only for those who itemize deductions. My understanding is that the sales tax deduction on the federal 1040 will be available to both schedule A filers and also to those who take the standard deduction (i.e. no schedule A). For this reason, I believe that when the new 1040 forms become available, you will see this as an adjustment to income on page 1 of the 1040.

sanjaysdca

Late model CPO Infiniti G with AWD

When you talk about resale factor in the street price too...
I will look at following ratio

street Price paid now/expected resale in three years

If you do that then you will find that late model Honda and toyota attaract stupid money

colin_l

Wow, you've gotten a lot of replies in a short amount of time and some are helpful, others wander a little.

Do not lease. Leasing only makes sense if you can claim it as a business expense, or you just really like to have a new car every few years and you drive low miles.

Buying new might actually make sense right now depending on incentives. I would figure out a list of 4-6 cars that you think you might buy, including the VW GTI, and look to see if there are extremely good incentives on '09 (or even unsold '08) models.

After you see the options that are the most economically appealing, then drive them all and ask for specific feedback about them. Google for reviews about them.

Then buy the one that makes the most sense of all these factors. Here's some ideas based on your first post:

New or used Mazda 3
New or used Civic
New or used Impreza
New or used Scion tC

Good luck!

pavelbarchuk

Buying a new car and selling it after three years is a very foolish thing to do unless its a toyota prius, those cars soemtimes cost more after three years, but thats a different story.

With the economy being where it is right now, cars are pretty much worthless. They are worth what your willing to pay and in most cases, used auto dealers will sell you the car at a price that your willing to pay since their markup is alot higher than it was back in the good economy times. Now days dealers arent selling enough cars which means less profit, so they have to make the profit somewhere else, in this case, its pricing every car to the limit. I worked at the dealer for a while and seen cars being sold 15,000 over what we paid for.

Just pick something you like, volkswagen gti actually would be a good car, yes its a german car and yes it might have problems once in a while, but they are great cars. Go to autotrader, cars.com and other websites and search for the best prices. Never buy the car on your first day, once you find the right car, give it a day before you make the purchase so later you wont have to regret anything.

Good luck.

okylish

Are you referring to a new car or a used one?

okylish

I am a foreign student, educated overseas.
It has been a while since I last lived in the states, that's why this will be my first car.

Being an international, lease does not seem like an option for me

okylish

There are not many dealers in my town (Ithaca), so I often see people buying their cars in NJ or other places (3-4 hours drive).
If this is the case, do I still have to consider the future local demand for my vehicle?
Or is it difficult to sell a car in a different state/city?

morin2

Its impossible to predict the future, but most people sell their car where they live, just because that is the easiest way to do things. Some areas have "cultures" where certain brands are worth much more than they are in other areas. Sometimes, knowing that would help you to sell what is locally desirable. In NY, an all-wheel drive vehicle will be an easy sell because conditions there make them more practical. Have you driven in Ithaca in the winter?

All that is less important than finding what fits your needs and also will be easy to get serviced locally.

lzr

I need to replace my 2002 Chrysler T&C Limited minivan. Important background info: I have 3 sons (13, 10, 7) who are very tall. The 13 y/o is 6' tall, and all the boys are predicted to be well over 6'2". My husband is 6'4" and 300+ lbs. I do an equal combination of city and highway driving here in SW Florida ... at least 16K miles/year. We tend to keep vehicles for a long time, usually 7 years or more; our Volvo is 13 years old. I need a vehicle with 3 rows to keep the boys from fighting on long trips.

I narrowed my search down to 2 vehicles whose prices differ by tens of thousands of dollars, but I'd like your input:

2010 Ford Flex Limited or a 2009 Mercedes Benz GL320 Bluetec?? :confuse:

Until last week, I was absolutely certain I wanted the 2010 Flex Ltd. I like the style, the specs, and the features. Fully loaded, It has lots of great features for a reasonable price -- less than $40K; I even have a contact for X-plan. I test-drove a 2009 and liked it. However, we need to have a tilting/telescoping steering wheel, and this won't go into the Flex build until Job 2 (fall-late fall 2009). Additionally, the second row bucket seats do not have armrests; you must use the optional console (which blocks easy access to row 3) or do without. Dumb design.

Last week, the local MB dealer sent me a letter saying they were offering $7000 off any GL320 Bluetec (diesel) in stock. I test drove a gorgeous black/black 320 and fell in love. The SUV had plenty of pep, thanks to a turbo-charged diesel, had great stopping power, great turning radius, and good pick-up. The car felt like a rock when I closed the door and was temptingly luxurious. I'm hooked, except I don't want black-on-black. I can find a better color combo, but who knows if they'll deal down as low as the local dealer. The Bluetec will qualify me for the Alternative Fuel Tax Credit ($1800) this year.

I've been driving mommy-mobiles for 13 years, and I'm done. I have always wanted an SUV. The Benz fits the bill ... of over $70K MSRP. The Flex's boxy body really appealed to me.

What's a woman to do? Speak up and give me your 0.02!

Thanks!

sebring95

I thought I liked the Flex as well until really getting in one and trying it out. Just not impressed and face it, you get spoiled with the space, comfort, and utility of a minivan. None of these SUV or cross-over types can compare, so it comes down to which has less compromise. I would be very concerned about keeping a Mercedes for seven years....yes it's very expensive up front and will depreciate like mad but the maintenance/repairs after the 4th year (where your warranty ends) is also going to be very pricey. I guess it depends on what value you put on having a vehicle like that as a daily runner.

You might also take a look at the Buick Enclave. That's what we've decided will replace our minivan when the time is right. We also shopped the Benz R320 and Acura MDX neither of which impressed us more than the Enclave. Lots of features, well built, good space and while not cheap it will be a far better value over time than a Benz. But if you don't mind paying for the Benz then by all means go for it. And if it came down to the Flex or GL320 and value wasn't the main concern....I'd go GL320.

lzr

I looked at the GMC Acadia, the twin of the Enclave. Yes, it's a nice car, but the 3rd row is a joke: there is no leg room, and the seat-height is suitable only for toddlers, not the herd of giants at my house.

The cost of repairs is a real issue with Mercedes, but I'd consider an extended warranty or service plan to cover things. I should have purchased one for the Crapler minivan I currently drive. I've put nearly $6000 into that thing since the warranty expired.

colin_l

I haven't been in a Mercedes ML in years; definitely not even the current generation at all. But I recall it being a small SUV.. can your 3 large boys really fit in the back? (Did you bring them with you on a test drive? ) The Flex seems quite small as well.

But in general, the feedback I have is that there are probably other vehicles you should be looking at because of the massive gulf in price between your two options. Are you serious about the prices, btw? $40k for a Flex seems more than a bit high, and a Bluetec ML320 starts at $45k, so it doesn't seem reasonable to option it all the way to $70k. You can get a ML550 AWD for $60k! Make sure you aren't paying full price for any extended warranty. Getting 50% off is a good target. You might get only 25%, but never, ever pay full price for an extended warranty.

Back to the alternatives... VW makes a great diesel, so if a diesel is in the cards I'd look at the Toureg TDI.

sebring95

Well I guess I'm surprised the 3rd row comfort is that high on your list considering I felt the Flex was as bad or worse than the Enclave in that regard. I assumed the youngest would go there anyway, and seven years from now when he's 6' you'll be onto something else and/or the oldest will be long over riding around with you. The Enclave is bigger than the GL so many of the other seating positions are more comfortable IMHO (width in particular).

To get true 3 row comfort you have to go to a mega-full size SUV like the Suburban/Yukon XL. The Denali is loaded out and a decent vehicle. We have a Suburban LTZ for a company vehicle and I just took myself, the CEO, and 5 bankers out for a 6 hour trip around to our locations and then back to the airport. Plenty of comfort and gobs of cargo space for everyones bags. Most of the others have a big compromise between 3rd row room and cargo space. I also noticed on the GL Edmunds reports the 2nd row seats don't move, so if your husband has the front seat all the way back....that might cramp the 2nd row quite a bit. I'm 6'-4" and have the same issues, but usually more complaints with head room. Most of the 3rd rows have no head room even if they have ok leg room. Make sure you take the whole clan on the test drive and think about where you'll put luggage. I hate hauling around the roof-top carries which is why we've stuck with the minivan for so long. The Enclave is about the only one that will work for us since it has decent cargo room and we'll just try to avoid sticking a 6-footer back there.

exb0

I've been driving mommy-mobiles for 13 years, and I'm done.

Boy, you sound like my wife. We have two 14 year olds and just replaced a minivan with an SUV. It doesn't have as much leg room in the back. It is lacking in cargo space for when we go on vacation to the beach. It is not a comfortable ride, seats are not as comfortable, and my kids [non-permissible content removed] about it all the time. Oh, gas mileage sucks too. Even my wife admits it was a mistake. Be careful with any SUV and leg room in the third seat for a 6'2".

Think twice, if you get the BENZ and have to trade in a year or so, you will loose your shirt. For the price of the BENZ, you can buy a minivan for your family and a nice sporty car for yourself

suydam

I know you're tired of minivans, but the Honda Odyssey will give you all the room you need and won't break the bank. Five more minivan years and you can get a really nice sedan, a Mercedes if you like. It isn't just your three children -- its their friends too. And the years you have left hauling them around and being with them all are few. I'm a mom of 3 tall children too; now they are all grown and gone. I have my nice sedan but I wouldn't trade the minivan years for anything in terms of spending time with them and their friends. Better on gas mileage too than some hulking SUV. And think -- will you want your oldest son driving that expensive SUV? Whereas he won't covet driving the minivan; but he will probably be safer doing so.

plekto

Two choices that you might consider are the new Toyota Venza - which is a more civilized minivan/SUV/wagon. Inside room was good and it drives nicely - almost car-like. Reliability isn't an issue either.

The other choice if you want a SUV that will fit 5 people... Just get a 4Runner. It's big, great to drive, will actually equal a Jeep Wrangler off-road(verified by my friend who owned both and took them on the exact same trails), and reliable. He's now sick of it after about six years but the thing still drives and rides like new, so he's given it to his wife to replace her Honda minivan. He gets a new VW GTI and she's happy as well.

oregonboy

Suydam -

Sage advice from someone who has driven down that road. :shades:

morin2

Well - there's the downside of good pre-natal care and infant nutrition for you. I hope you learned your lesson!

Some good suggestions, especially the Odyssey above.
Have you ruled out these:

Volvo XC-90
Toyota Sequoia
Ford Expedition/Lincoln Navigator

Realistically, you'll have one less giant in 3 years. Our experience is that when they become old enough to drive themselves, its very rare to ever have them as passengers (and they will grow out of the fighting by then).

And cheer up - look at the bright side: you'll never hear your 16 year old daughter tell you that she's thinking of becoming a lawyer to sue her parents because they didn't see any reason for getting genetic testing - with our thoughtlessness resulting in a beautiful, brilliant and driven student athlete who hates being only 5'3". Even those of us with average size kids can never really win...

sebring95

Venza doesn't have 3rd row. 4-runner 3rd row is a penalty box. We've got a 3rd row with our GX470 simply because Lexus wouldn't build one without it. They're stored in the garage. Yes a mom of 3 in Florida is probably looking for a hard-core off-roader :confuse:

sanjaysdca

for 70K you can get
Honda Ody plus Lexus IC250 convertble...

If you must have an SUV and are looking at MB GL I will also test drive
Range Rover
Lexus LX

jeffyscott

For $70K you can get a minivan, a sedan, and a used car for each kid as they get their driver's license.

plekto

Oh come on. You can easily fit three kids in the second row of any of these larger SUVs and CUVs. I remember when they would cram us all in the back of an old Toyota and we'd deal with it. No AC, no frills. Now it has to be every kids gets their own captain's chair, DVR, and built-in massage function or else they cry like little starving puppies.

In a few years your oldest will want their own vehicle anyways so it's really a 4+1 person vehicle you're looking for. Because other than the occasional long family trip, it'll take an act of god to get him in the car at all once he has his own wheels.

lzr

Colin,
I'm not looking at an ML. It's too small. I'm looking at the GL. Yes, my kids each fit in the back row of the GL, as verified today when I took my husband to sit in the car.

I haven't looked at the VW. It appears to be the same size as the GM models (Acadia, etc.), which all have useless 3d rows, designed for toddlers.

lzr

With his grades, there's no worry that my eldest will be driving in 3 years. Even if he gets himself in gear academically, we are not buying him a car.

And, until you've been stuck in a car with three restless, hungry, active, squirrely boys on any car ride, don't even presume to know what a danger that is to have behind the driver.

lzr

My husband will not fit into the Odyssey. The seats are uncomfortable for him, and there isn't enough leg room. We looked at one years ago and hated it then. Not going that route at all.

lzr

The Volvo XC90 is too small for everyone in our family. The front seat area is small. The second row is uncomfortable, and the third row is uninhabitable. Additionally, there is absolutely no cargo room.

I love the Toyota Sequoia and came close to buying one a year ago. The biggest problem is that it gets crappy gas mileage. Same problem with the Expedition and the Nav.

psumommyof2

So, I'm still struggling with deciding what's the best car for my family. I think I've narrowed it down, but they show how unsure i am about what exactly i need. My family consists of me and my 2 kids. I commute about 40 miles roundtrip, so want something that doesn't eat gas.

I'm looking at Honda Odyssey
Toyota Sienna if I stick with a minivan, which is what I currenly own, I have an odyssey that is nearing lease end (2 months).

I also like the Honda cr-v

and not sure if I want to go sedan route because I feel I'd miss the extra room..but I do like the Honda accord and Toyota camry..

What would you choose and why? Would you suggest something different?

Thanks!!

sebring95

I love the Toyota Sequoia and came close to buying one a year ago. The biggest problem is that it gets crappy gas mileage. Same problem with the Expedition and the Nav.

As I alluded to before, spending an extra $20k to get a vehicle that gets a few more mpg won't pay off. The difference for you (16k miles a year) between a vehicle that averages 14mpg and one that averages 19mpg is about $700 year. And you'll burn that easily in maintenance/repairs on the Benz. We used to buy nothing but luxury vehicles (wife still does...currently GX470) but I just got sick of losing the coin and keeping them beyond warranty was like buying an economy car every year. Seqouia would be a far better choice IMHO at a fraction of the cost. They were practically giving them away last year, mainly because nobody is buying full size utes these days. Which brings me to if you buy the Benz, I'd drive a pretty hard bargain. $7k off should be easy at any dealer.

I'm the same size (tall) as your husband and Ody is very comfortable for me. Just did a nine hour trip this weekend actually. But you don't want one so no need for excuses. Although I do agree if $70k is the budget I'd buy a minivan and a nice car. IMHO, there's nothing fun or cool about any of these types of vehicles...suv or minivan. You buy them for function so it doesn't make much sense to compromise too much.

sebring95

That's tough because we don't know how much/often/how you use all that extra space in the minivan. How long before you start hauling around additional kids/stuff? That's really a decision you have to make on how much you'll miss the van.

With a 40 mile commute, you could save some fuel by moving to a 4cyl Accord or Camry....$50 a month or so and will likely be cheaper to buy. I would say if you're planning to go the minivan route, just buy out your lease (assuming it's a decent buy-out). That way you're not shopping or possibly picking up a new problem (assuming your van is well maintained and in good working order).

plekto

Since you have only 4 people to worry about, that means you can easily just get a normal car. Everyone I know who has had a minivan has regretted it. The last one I had to get for a trip as a rental was a miserable wallowing turd. There were times when I swore I was in 1990 with my old Buick it was so slow to merge into traffic.

Let's be clear here. Minivans are basically a *box* and while you can haul a lot of people in one, it's the worst of all worlds. It doesn't handle like a car, it's not high up or tough like a SUV, it is still top-heavy and cumbersome, and I've not seen one that gets better gas mileage than a small SUV or has a large enough engine.

Compare even a RAV4 to an Odyssey and it's really a stark difference. Everyone says that you need all that extra room to haul stuff... Yeah, I'm the one who is always NOT volunteering to haul 2 extra kids and their stuff thankyouverymuch...

sebring95

You have a very unique view of vehicles. I'm surprised you didn't recommend she buy a Tacoma :P Small SUV's are just that....small. Minivans are anything but mini. Our Odyssey is as big as our previous Tahoe and weighs almost as much...except it handles better, is quicker, gets better mpg, and hauls people/stuff better. Yes, worst of all worlds :confuse: Now compared to a car, sure the car is going to hanlde/drive/etc. better but the car won't haul 5-6 people in complete comfort with all their bags tucked neatly inside while watching a movie. She stated she was concered about losing the space, so obviuosly she uses it.

sanjaysdca

have you looked at mazda5?

good milage
good space..
little underpowerded

take a kiio good alternative to a 4 cylimder car or mini suv

jeffyscott

I love the Toyota Sequoia and came close to buying one a year ago. The biggest problem is that it gets crappy gas mileage. Same problem with the Expedition and the Nav.

There you go, if the only thing you are willing to tolerate is a gigantic SUV, then your gonna get crappy mpg. (or pay a fortune for the $70K MB whatever it was and get a bit less crappy mpg, I assume).

Long ago, when our three kids were about 13, 10, and 7, we were looking at replacing our first minivan (the old Voyager, not "grand"...which was about the size of the Mazda5). We looked at a gargantuan SUV, we came close to going for a Suburban. That was the only really big one, with a third row of seating available at the time and while it seemed like it would be great on trips, to have all that space, we ended going with another (larger) minivan, at a price that was about 30% lower than the Suburban would have been. But the biggest reason was not the cost, it was that neither of us wanted to have to drive a monster SUV (or a full size van, which we also considered) to and from work every day.

Anyway, my point is just to be sure that you are not going to find it obnoxious and annoying to drive a huge SUV to and from work every day, assuming that is part of the plan for this vehicle.

morin2

My husband will not fit into the Odyssey. The seats are uncomfortable for him, and there isn't enough leg room. We looked at one years ago and hated it then. Not going that route at all.

The Odyssey has grown with every new generation. Perhaps the one you disliked was 2 or 3 generations ago. The earliest Odyssey wasn't even a Honda product at all, but an Isuzu Oasis - which brought more money with the Honda label.

The new Odyssey is a much bigger creature than those earlier versions.

morin2

I love the Toyota Sequoia and came close to buying one a year ago. The biggest problem is that it gets crappy gas mileage. Same problem with the Expedition and the Nav.

If you love the Sequoia (and can spell it correctly!), then do yourself a favor and run the math with the mpg. I believe that you will find that the extra money spent on gas might be less than you think and also will be offset by the enjoyment it brings you. Many great vehicles are dismissed for the reason of "crappy gas mileage", often emotionally rather than rationally, when in fact, other considerations are of greater importance. If you have a 150 mile daily commute, then ignore this advice. When I decide on a new vehicle, I am covered in spreadsheets and several levels of personal cost/benefit analyses.