Buying a new car/SUV - need major help!!

[KillerCharlie]

My current car isn't going to last much longer and I need a new one. I'm pretty new to this so I have a series of questions.

1) New or used? I have cash to buy new. Is it the warranty and such worth it? Would I be better off buying something that's used and not losing as much through depreciation? When buying used, is it better to buy cars that depreciate more quickly (usually domestics), or that don't? If buying new, it seems like a much better idea to get something that doesn't depreciate as quickly so if you decided to trade it in (say, after 6 years) you get more.

2) Small SUVs. My current main hobby in the summer is hiking every weekend in the mountains. The gravel roads usually aren't horrible (have a fair share of cars on them), but I think it might just be better to have something higher up and with AWD. The extra room inside would be nice too. The types of small SUVs I'm looking are the CR-V, RAV4, Rogue, Escape, and Vue. Would these vehicles really offer me that much more benefit on questionable gravel roads since they're so tuned to highway driving?

Next winter I'll probably get into snowboarding to the point of going almost every weekend. It'd be nice to have AWD and a bit more clearance so I don't have to use chains in the mountain passes.


I think that's all my major questions for now... I'm not sure if I should get a small SUV (something AWD that gets around 25-26 mpg hwy) or a car. If I get a car, I think I'm leaning toward an Altima (since I really like them for some reason).

Thanks.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

If you like the Altima, test drive the Nissan Rogue.

You can find some real good bargains on used cars that are 1-2yrs old at 40-50% off of MSRP. Chevy Equinox, Pontiac Torrent, Ford Escape, Saturn Vue, Dodge Nitro.

If you buy used, ensure you buy a newer used car that still has a good 12-months left on the warranty, you can then also buy a manufactueres extended warranty if you are concerend but newer cars/trucks/suv's are relatively problem free as long as general maintenance is performed.

Go test drive and buy what you like the best, if you don't buy what you want you will end up buying again relatively soon and that is just more money down the drain.

 

[desy]

Any of the car based SUV's w AWD you mentioned will be fine for your purpose.
A subaru would also be a good choice.
New is nice but then choose to own it a long time and buy Japanese, Used buy NA for the big discount

 

[Funyuns101]

How are Subaru's in terms of reliability compared to the other Japanese brands (Honda, Toyota and Nissan)?

 

[desy]

CR, although hardly my favourite opinion magazine, places them above Nissan and in the same class as Honda and Toyota
In fact Nissan is with Mazda and all the rest of the 'other' Jap brands.
Not knocking Nissan, I own a Versa but Subaru's rep is pretty good and arguably the best AWD system going as that has been their deal from day one.
The engine technology is unique too with the flat engine, horizontally opposed I think they call it?

 

[Funyuns101]

horizontally opposed "boxer" engine instead of using V's and in-lines.

OP, I'm in a similar situation (my car isn't dead yet, but it's about time to upgrade sometime this year). I've been looking at CUV/SUVs like the CR-V and Rav4 along with some very nice Subaru's like the Forester, Legacy and even the Impreza.
My current car is a FWD and I've taken it to the mountains as I snowboard, but I don't know where you live.

 

[desy]

Canada
its -40 F today
Well it was at night, now its -22 F
I've had a couple 4X4's because I hunt and fish 'ice fish too' and REALLY go off road, but if your sticking to roads even gravel AWD is puhlenty.

Mostly a real 4X4 gives you ground clearance and full time, evenly split, front to back pulling.
A Mitsu Outlander would be worth a boo too!

 

[jagec]

Subaru sounds like a good match to me.

As for hiking in the mountains, I do that too, and I never even blinked at taking my Celica or MR2 up those gravel roads. You really don't need an SUV for that.

 

[ProfJohn]

Drive LOTS of cars.

Don't go in and drive one car and go "I like it!" and buy it. Test a lot of different cars until you are 100% sure you have the one you want.

 

[sniperruff]

the nissan xterra sounds good. buy nissan's used as they generally have lower resale value.

if you like cars more, the subaru outback and volvo xc70 are good choices.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Originally posted by: jagec
Subaru sounds like a good match to me.

As for hiking in the mountains, I do that too, and I never even blinked at taking my Celica or MR2 up those gravel roads. You really don't need an SUV for that.

Where do you typically hike? I've been on some pretty questionable roads along the mountain loop highway. Because of the recent flooding and the reluctance to fix national forest roads, road conditions in the area are only going to get worse.

Originally posted by: sniperruff
the nissan xterra sounds good. buy nissan's used as they generally have lower resale value.

if you like cars more, the subaru outback and volvo xc70 are good choices.

Unfortunately the gas mileage is too low for me on the xterra. I'm hoping for something that has at least 25 mpg highway. Also, their ride is pretty harsh on the highway.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: KillerCharlie

Originally posted by: jagec
Subaru sounds like a good match to me.

As for hiking in the mountains, I do that too, and I never even blinked at taking my Celica or MR2 up those gravel roads. You really don't need an SUV for that.

Where do you typically hike? I've been on some pretty questionable roads along the mountain loop highway. Because of the recent flooding and the reluctance to fix national forest roads, road conditions in the area are only going to get worse.

Cascades, mainly. Don't get me wrong, one of the mini-utes would certainly offer a bit more peace of mind, but I grew up overseas and I know what a vehicle can and can't do on the rough stuff.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: KillerCharlie

Originally posted by: jagec
Subaru sounds like a good match to me.

As for hiking in the mountains, I do that too, and I never even blinked at taking my Celica or MR2 up those gravel roads. You really don't need an SUV for that.

Where do you typically hike? I've been on some pretty questionable roads along the mountain loop highway. Because of the recent flooding and the reluctance to fix national forest roads, road conditions in the area are only going to get worse.

Cascades, mainly. Don't get me wrong, one of the mini-utes would certainly offer a bit more peace of mind, but I grew up overseas and I know what a vehicle can and can't do on the rough stuff.

I figured the cascades since you're from Seattle (as am I).

Do you snowboard/ski a lot? I would think you wouldn't have to rely on chains as much if you have AWD...

 

[krunchykrome]

I test drove a few cars you might be interested in:

2008 Nissan Xterra: It was powerfull, had a decent amount of space; boring interior.

2008 Jeep Wrangler: Just felt like a econobox lifted higher off of the ground. Boring interior.

2008 CRV EX: Smooth car like ride, very comfortable inside, roomy, and easy on the eye (both inside and out)

2008 Subaru WRX: Fast, nice gauges, love it or hate it exterior.

I decided to go with the CRV; gonna purchase it very soon.

 

[gotsmack]

Check out the Jeep Patriot, the lifetime warranty sounds sweet.

I am in the same situation and was going to go with a Subaru Forester until I found out that 09 was a redesign and the fuel door is on the passenger side (I hate that).

I've made up my mind to get the Rav4, would consider the Patriot more seriously, but I don't like the idea of buying first run vehicles.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

I'm going to make my usual pitches for the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX if you want luxury. Two very awesome vehicles whose AWD is very sure on uneven terrain (I should know, I live on a dirt road.. when it rains.. all the neighbors have to stay home while I take my Expedition on Bronco.. heh.. I love trucks).

A budget might help people make better suggestions for you.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
I'm going to make my usual pitches for the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX if you want luxury. Two very awesome vehicles whose AWD is very sure on uneven terrain (I should know, I live on a dirt road.. when it rains.. all the neighbors have to stay home while I take my Expedition on Bronco.. heh.. I love trucks).

A budget might help people make better suggestions for you.

Good point... those two vehicles are way out of my price range. I'm trying to keep it in the 20k range, maybe a few thousand more but not much.

I have my eye on the Nissan Rogue. Would the extra ground clearance and AWD help me on poor roads? I'm not talking about hardcore off-roading or anything. It seems that all the cute-utes (CRV, RAV4, etc) aren't really that much better for this than a regular old sedan, or are they?