Edit:may have found a car, what do you think?

coolred

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2001
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Edit:I found a 2004 Honda CRV EX with 8544 miles on it. It is certified pre owned and they are asking 21980, almost 1500 below edmunds TMV for a CPO CRV with its options. It was originally owned and registered as a fleet vehicle in GA, and then sold at auction in Indiana, where Imeke Auot Group bought it, they now are the ones selling it. Seems like a good deal to me. What do you think?





As I am sure you all know, by my other car related threads. I currenlty own a '97 Nissan Maxima SE, and an '89 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera. The oldsmobile has proved pretty darn reliable and has almost 170,000 miles on it. But it has some issues with it, it needs new brakes, at least a tune up, possibly more work to get it running properly, it will soon need some new tires, and has some other issues, which are showing its age. Stuff is falling apart/down, it has some definate rust issues. So basically it could probablly be salvaged, but would likely cost more then its worth.

So I am looking into getting something new, be it new or used. Currently my family consists of my Fiancee, my 4 year old son and myself. With hopefully another child on the way within the next year or so. Currently the maxima is our most used hauler. It works fine for us now. Has enough trunk room and interior space. But I think with the addition of another child, the back seat will be quite a bit more cramped, and more stuff to carry will probablly fill the trunk if not over fill it.

So I am not sure if we could get away with a slightly larger sedan or not. My fiancee has had her heart set on a compact SUV, and I have been considering them. But as I am sure many will remind me, a minivan is much more practical. So I have been looking into them a bit more, and maybe starting to get her onto the idea.

I used to drive the maxima, but with the Olds dying a slow death and me working closer to home. I am now taking the olds and she is driving the max. So if we got an SUV, she woudl probablly want to drive it. I am not totally enthused about driving a minivan. But at this point in time, I don't think I would mind, and I think she would deal with it as well. The only thing is that the minivan market seems lop sided. You got the great Siena and Odyssey which tend to be a bit on the expensive side. Then everything else seems average or even crappy, but is priced quite a bit lower. I was looking through a consumer reports book and pretty much all of the minivans got average or worse reliability except the Siena and Odessey. My fiancee saw a Nissan Quest and said she liked the look of it from the outside, but thought the interior was a bit weird, not bad just weird.

I am mainly looking for something safe, reliable(or cheap and cheap to fix at least)that can move at least a family of 4 and the stuff that goes with it. Preferablly with good gas mileage. One reasons I also like the SUV's is due to most of them having AWD, which is great in the snow. But I know there are a few minivans and even some cars with AWD. I would like to get my listed narrowed down quite a bit before I start doing test drives or anything like that. Through my current job, I get some discounts on new vehciles. Mainly domestics(Ford, Diamler Chrysler, Mazda, GM, Staurn, Volvo, Nissan(but only one local dealer) and maybe a couple more)but not sure if that helps much.

So any opinions other then STFU, or stop posting, although I am sure I will get a few of them.
 

coolred

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2001
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Oh yeah I almost forgot, she said if we do get a minivan, she wants it to have dual sliding doors.
 

psiu

Golden Member
Oct 1, 2003
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My Javascript is broken in Firefox right now, so I can't edit. Try the Escape with a 4 cylinder or if possible get the Hybrid.

which leads to...

Also a price range needs to be determined...you didn't really say how much would be your cut off pricewise.
 

sniperruff

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
11,644
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honda element despite how everyone saying how ugly it is. i think it's unique and it's very well-designed, all with a not so bad price tag.
 

coolred

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2001
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Can anyone tell me what differances there are between the caravan and grand caravan? I know the GC is several inches longer, but what about options.
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
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From what you said, look at the Pontiac Montana SV6. It has dual sliding doors and they are not moving real well right now, so between the GM deal the dealer might work with you as well. Also you can get it in AWD setup. So covers what you need and should be pretty cheap to boot.
 

coolred

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2001
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Originally posted by: psiu
How about the Ford Escape?

We have and are considering the escape, but I just figured everyone would tell me a minivan was mor epractical, which it probablly is. I heard the 4cyl in the escape was kinda lacking. I considered the hybrid, but since I would be doing more highway then city driving, I don't think I would benefit much from it.


And yes the Element is fugly.


I haven't really figured a total cost figure yet, I figure under 500/month would be good. Less is always better though.

Marlin, I will check out the pontiac, as well as what the last 2 said, but since I didn't read thier posts, that may be hard, LOL
 

sniperruff

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
11,644
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if i have to go with a minivan i'd look for a toyota or honda. the matrix is a very useful car with a cheap pricetag (that also looks ok IMO), but its interior is also cheap. it has a lot of luggage space with its fold down seats its headroom is excellent.
 

coolred

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2001
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I don't know why, but I like the idea of a station wagon even less then a minivan. It would have to be pretty sweet for me to want one. But I had been considering a legacy earlier, I will check them out.

freebee, the odessey and sienna get the best reviews, but they are quite a bite more expensive and, not sure about the honda, but the sienna seems to lack personality completely.
 

coolred

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2001
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Originally posted by: RossMAN
Here we go again :) Remember your 200 other Neon threads? ;)

Anyhow you may be interested in reading this
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=40&threadid=1601742

Best of luck :)

200 threads about cars maybe, not 200 about neons. I have had a lot of issues with my vehicles, so I come here to seek guidance, especially from deal masters such as yourself.


As for the GM discount, I already qualify for it, so is there more to that thread I should read, or is it just about everyone being able to get the discount?





Also, I went back to edmunds looking at some wagons, starte doff with the legacy, and its first con is a smaller then average back seat. On occasion it may be required that I or my fiancee ride in the back with the kid(s). Now with just the one thats fine, but after we have another, 1 adult and 2 car seats can take up a lot of room, and if the back seat is small to begin with, then that complicates things. I am wondering if this is an issue concerning cars compared to minivans.
 

coolred

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2001
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Hmm, maybe I should have looked harder at that saab 9-2x deal. I wasn't real high on a wagon back then, stil aren't really. But with the fact that I can get it for invoice less dealer marketing fees, plus the 7000 in rebates(I think they end tomorrow though). That would be a pretty hot deal.
 

coolred

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2001
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Ahhh, look slike the local deale ronly has one left a silver linear, it was probablly too late any way, and again I am not in love with the looks of the car. Its got some style, but is kinda weird looking.