Car buying advice: 55k, 2 cars, big family

[Dr. Zaus]

Hi,

So I have 55k I'd like to spend on two cars. My usage model is as such.

1) I have a family of 7, I need to bring all of them about 200 miles about once month.
2) I have a 20 min commute to work
3) The wife would like a car she can drive to the store, or use to bring the kids about, during the day when I'm at work.

Right now i'm thinking 26k for a ford flex, and 28k for a ford fusion.

This will be my first actual car buying experience; before this all of my cars have been purchased from friends or family. I have no preference for Ford, I just happened to have rented these cars and didn't dislike them.

I have a total lack of knowledge regarding cars, thus the post.

Any and all advice is appreciated,

 

[jlee]

I would do a $35,000 CTS-V and an $8,000 80-series Landcruiser and budget the other $12k for fuel. :awe:

 

[dbk]

Go visit some dealerships for some test drives...

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Dodge Grand Caravan - an absolutely terrific people mover and a 280HP V6 & 6spd Auto. Can be had in many variants from the $17K base model to the $31K RT model.

Huge discounts at the dealerships. http://www.stevenscreekchryslerjeepdodge.net/new-chrysler-dodge-jeep-ram-weekend-specials.htm


The Flex will not have the luggage capacity you need and is much better at seating 6 than 7 as its a bit narrower than a minivan. If you like Ford, you will want to drive their Ford Transit Connect People mover - I doubt your wife will like it.

No mid-size car is bad except the Galant. Accord, Camry, Altima, Malibu, Mazda 6, Fusion - all good cars. Accord, Fusion & Mazda 6 are seen as the best but the new Camry for 2015 made lots of improvements.

Go test drive and decide based upon price + features and what you like best.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

^thank you!

 

[repoman0]

I would do a $35,000 CTS-V and an $8,000 80-series Landcruiser and budget the other $12k for fuel. :awe:

+1 -- spend a little more on something you'll really enjoy driving every day, a little less on the people mover, and no need to spend the entire 55k :thumbsup:

 

[Yuriman]

Minivan and a motorcycle/sports car, maybe a Sienna and S2000 with low miles.

 

[desy]

As a flex owner I like it but yeah you need full on minivan for that many

 

[NutBucket]

Another recommendation for a minivan. It's simply more comfortable for that many people.

How big are the family members? Does it make sense to just use two vehicles?

 

[Dr. Zaus]

Another recommendation for a minivan. It's simply more comfortable for that many people.

How big are the family members? Does it make sense to just use two vehicles?

Wife and myself, 21 year old autistic brother, and the kiddos:
6,5,3, and 1

 

[chucky2]

I'd agree with Fmr12B, and we're a Ford family and have a 2014 Flex SEL FWD with 40/40 2nd row buckets. It's a really nice ride but fitting all the kids in there, and then along with luggage? It fills up fast. Even though the seats fold flat they don't come out, not that that'd help you anyways given the amount of people you need to move.

If you're going to have to drive only once a month 200mi with 7 people, maybe find an older junkier E-150? It's not like 200mi will be a long trip (3 hours one way), and it's only once a month. That way for the other 29 days each month, you both have more appropriate vehicles rather than a beast one of you has to drive all the time.

Chuck

 

[NutBucket]

In CA all the kids need car seats. That's tough to fit in any car imho.

 

[SKORPI0]

10 Best 7 Passenger SUVs
SUV Rankings: Luxury SUVs with 3 Rows
Top Inexpensive Cars With Third-Row Seating
Discover and Compare the Best 7+ Passenger Vehicles

 

[Kelvrick]

What about 3 cars? You can probably fit the budget of a minivan (like the caravan above) for 25k, and 2x 15k cars. A used commuter car for you, and an electric car for the wife around town during the day. I think you can get several different models for under 20 now or you can just lease. A leaf is 199 a month (I think this even comes with a lease rebate), fiats 500e's are like 80 a month. .

Some lease examples.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ctd/4731558990.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/ctd/4731191832.html

 

[ballmode]

Honda Pilot for 7 passenger seating?

 

[DigDog]

second hand beamers or mercs.

 

[jessieqwert]

VW Eurovan

 

[Firsttime]

Dodge Caravan with captains seats in the middle row is awesome for moving people imo. The ability to keep kids apart can be worth it's weight in gold. Where you drive around with a 21 year old I would definitely go minivan, and I would make sure to get separated seats in the middle instead of the bench.

 

[Zargon]

as far as vans go, I am very happy so far with my 2014 Grand Caravan

the new Sedona is going to appear soon as well!

initial impressions are good, cost is a bit high

 

[nk215]

This has minivan written all over it. One of the best feature of the minivan is the sliding doors. In a garage, having sliding doors is >> traditional swing-open door.

Minivan + Prius combo is my recommendation.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Minivan for people mover/grocery getter. (Carava, Oyssey, Sienna, Sedona, Transit Connect, Qwest, Mazda something or other?) 25-30K
Smaller more economical car for commuter/daily driver for you, with 4 doors in case you take a couple of the rugrats with you and she takes a couple with her someplace else... So many options to consider for this ... Fusion is nice, but Focus and Fiesta are both good options as well, and cheaper, and better MPG ...

 

[Belegost]

I would look at a minivan and a Mazda 5, the 5 is inexpensive (20k base, but good deals for the end of the year), seats 6 and gets decent mileage, so it would fit the wife's needs for an around town car with the option of carrying most of the family.

 

[ViviTheMage]

without reading the other posts .. make sure you test drive other cars first! Dealers will give you test drives for free

 

[Fenixgoon]

minivan ftw

 

[jagec]

Used Honda or Toyota minivan for $10k, spend the rest on an M3.