New Daily Driver....what would YOU get?

[Scarpozzi]

Family of 4....we have a medium sized SUV that's my wife's daily driver and what we take on road trips.

I am replacing my 4 door full-sized sedan....

We have 2 kids in car seats and I am 6'4".

I don't want to spend a lot of money on it and good gas mileage with power is a plus....but I'd like safety if possible.

$16-18k....2013-newer Altima S or SL?
$22-24k....Sienna or Odyssey
or should I consider another SUV?

2WD is fine...I just want Bluetooth and would like leather but it's not mandatory.

 

[The Stigenator]

Mazda CX5 (for gas mileage) or the Mazda 6 series.
I am not too keen on the Altima's reliablity, but I'd take the new camry over the altima.

If you are going to go towards a minivan, look at the Kia Sedona

 

[slugg]

I came in here to agree with The Stigenator.

But you should also look into a Ford Fusion. I think you'd be pleasantly surprised with that car.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I drove an Altima for a week last fall and liked it. I wasn't all that impressed with the fabric interior. It seemed very low-end, button fuel economy and electronics in the Altima S appeared to be a bargain. If I could get one of those under $15000 with low miles, that would be ideal.

I have also looked at the Buick LaCrosse.

Ford's lineup was impressive to me, but I didn't care for the leg room in the back or front. I will check out the Kia. My cousin used to drive a Sedona and liked it, but he traded it for a Nissan Quest. Nissan quality is poor, but the price of their vehicles on the used market makes me feel alright about taking the risk for a short term ownership until I upgrade to something in a different class.

Edit: if anyone has a hundred thousand dollars they want to give me, I will stop posting these silly questions.

 

[master_shake_]

seriously.

im like maybe 7 kilometers back and forth to work.

 

[996GT2]

I'd consider just about every other car in that class before looking at a Nissan.

You can get a low-mileage 2012+ Accord, Camry, or Mazda6 for under $18K. Alternatively, take a look at the CX5, CR-V, or Rav4 as well.

 

[JulesMaximus]

If it were me I'd get a 2016 Mercedes-Benz E400 Cabriolet. I'd keep the Camry Hybrid I currently own and drive the Merc on weekends and occasionally to work.

 

[Kaido]

Mazda CX5 (for gas mileage) or the Mazda 6 series.
I am not too keen on the Altima's reliablity, but I'd take the new camry over the altima.

If you are going to go towards a minivan, look at the Kia Sedona

I recently checked out a CX5 & it was great! Leather was very nice. Trunk was ENORMOUS! Doesn't look that big since it's a smaller SUV, but it's huge!

Also agree, for vans, check out the new Sedona. You can get a base model through Truecar for $25k, which has a backup cam, A/C, and power windows - I would pick that over any other van to be honest. Recently took one for a test drive & LOVED it!

 

[Excelsior]

I rented a CX5 and wow, was I impressed. I've only ever driven in a Highlander or 4 Runner in a related category, but the economy, design, handling, and motor in that base model CX-5 was thoroughly impressive.

 

[Kaido]

I rented a CX5 and wow, was I impressed. I've only ever driven in a Highlander or 4 Runner in a related category, but the economy, design, handling, and motor in that base model CX-5 was thoroughly impressive.

The Skyactiv platform is surprisingly neat. Baffled as to why I haven't really heard more about it & why they're not pushing it more. The Mazda sales guy told me the other day that Toyota is sub-contracting out the platform for their future cars (staring with the Yaris from what I read online).

 

[Mutilator]

I'm gonna +1 on the Mazda6 or CX5. I got the 6 last year and it checked all my boxes and then some. In my case I wanted a 4 door, manual transmission, 30MPG+, no sunroof, etc. Got a touring model (middle trim) for just over $22K OTD 0% 60 months $0 down. Yeah it's "only" 184hp/185tq but it's by no means slow or underpowered. It has everything my 09 135i has and then some feature wise... it's gorgeous to look at... and the trunk is laughably large compared to my 1 series. I've got absolutely no complaints about it. One of the best bang for the buck cars out there imo.

 

[z1ggy]

Mazda 6, Ford Fusion for Sedan if you still want some fun factor.

 

[Herr Kutz]

I'm gonna +1 on the Mazda6 or CX5. I got the 6 last year and it checked all my boxes and then some. In my case I wanted a 4 door, manual transmission, 30MPG+, no sunroof, etc. Got a touring model (middle trim) for just over $22K OTD 0% 60 months $0 down. Yeah it's "only" 184hp/185tq but it's by no means slow or underpowered. It has everything my 09 135i has and then some feature wise... it's gorgeous to look at... and the trunk is laughably large compared to my 1 series. I've got absolutely no complaints about it. One of the best bang for the buck cars out there imo.

Not even road and wind noise at interstate speeds?

 

[sze5003]

Another Mazda 6 owner here. Have a 2016 touring model 6 speed. Got it last month. Drives smooth, interior is beautiful, shifts smooth, gas mileage is good considering I drive about 60 miles total every day for work.

No road noise I can tell of unless you are on bad roads. My only oddity is my front passenger seat squeeks or creaks while I'm driving. There are some wires underneath there so not sure what that's about.

It doesn't happen while someone is sitting there I think but I'm going to take it in to have them look at it next weekend.

 

[soulcougher73]

I just got a 15' Honda Accord Hybrid base model last month. Finally filled up a month later and got 43.5mpg

 

[Kaido]

I just got a 15' Honda Accord Hybrid base model last month. Finally filled up a month later and got 43.5mpg

Wow, that is awesome!

Hey, how's the speed? I heard they are kind of pokey. Do they merge & pass fine?

 

[Scarpozzi]

I'll have to give Mazda a look. We only have one Mazda dealer around here and they are kind of scammish. I may have to test drive there (give them one of my google numbers and try searching across state lines)...

I noticed the CX5 a while back, but wasn't sure if it was trying to be a crossover or a van...and wasn't sure about the styling. The 6 definitely looks good, but a friend of mine owned one about 8 years ago when they first came out (I guess after they changed from 626 to 6...). His was in the shop quite a few times for engine problems, so I hadn't really given them a look since then.

 

[sze5003]

I'll have to give Mazda a look. We only have one Mazda dealer around here and they are kind of scammish. I may have to test drive there (give them one of my google numbers and try searching across state lines)...

I noticed the CX5 a while back, but wasn't sure if it was trying to be a crossover or a van...and wasn't sure about the styling. The 6 definitely looks good, but a friend of mine owned one about 8 years ago when they first came out (I guess after they changed from 626 to 6...). His was in the shop quite a few times for engine problems, so I hadn't really given them a look since then.

The 626 was a decent car and that was before they redid the engine. It had turbo too I think. They are hard to find now and most people get them to rebuild and race. My coworker has a cx5 and its very roomy. I think his is a 2015. Once I drove the 6 I loved how it handled. You get the comfy ride of a luxury sedan with the pickup and cornering of a sporty car. I was initially going for a Subaru legacy but after driving the 6 it reminded me too much of my rx8 and I decided to go with it. Very fun car to drive, definitely check it out.

Word of advice after test driving, if you decide on one look up dealers where ever you are a couple miles out and get all your negotiating done through email.

I ended up contacting their internet sales manager and I got my touring model out the door for 21k.

 

[soulcougher73]

Wow, that is awesome!

Hey, how's the speed? I heard they are kind of pokey. Do they merge & pass fine?

Yeah it will move if you gas it. Nothing like what i expect a Prius to be like. So far i love the car.

 

[pauldun170]

The 626 was a decent car and that was before they redid the engine. It had turbo too I think. They are hard to find now and most people get them to rebuild and race. My coworker has a cx5 and its very roomy. I think his is a 2015. Once I drove the 6 I loved how it handled. You get the comfy ride of a luxury sedan with the pickup and cornering of a sporty car. I was initially going for a Subaru legacy but after driving the 6 it reminded me too much of my rx8 and I decided to go with it. Very fun car to drive, definitely check it out.

Word of advice after test driving, if you decide on one look up dealers where ever you are a couple miles out and get all your negotiating done through email.

I ended up contacting their internet sales manager and I got my touring model out the door for 21k.

The 88-92 Was pretty decent. Both the base 2.2 and the turbo 2.2 were fairly solid for the era.
The 93+ can be divided into 2 catagories
Those paired with the manual and those paired with auto.
The manual cars were solid. Just an odd size for the US market.
The automatic equipped cars are repair bills waiting to happen. The transmission in those cars were timebombs with a short fuse.

(Former owner of 90 MX-6, 95 Probe GT and current owner of 2006 Mazda6)

 

[Mutilator]

Not even road and wind noise at interstate speeds?

Not nearly enough to bother me... but my other vehicles are a motorcycle and a modded 135i with cp-e exhaust so I'm use to hearing noises while I'm driving. The faster I go, the louder the noises. So compared to those this car is quiet.

I do remember reading about some people who would take off their door panels and put some dynamat or other soundproofing material in because they wanted it quieter though. I look at it the other way... they didn't sound proof the car because it saves weight, less weight = good. Zoom-Zoom not Hush-Hush right? Something like that.

 

[vi edit]

I've been quite happy with my C-Max. It works perfectly fine for my family of 4 on a daily basis. 45-50MPG in town in the warmer months. 38-40 on the highway. You can buy the Hybrid version used for cheap...$18k or less.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Odyssey if you don't mind a minivan and can get one without stupid mileage.
As for what I would get for my next DD, heart is set on a Jaguar XF 5.0SC, or if I get a good deal, Jaguar XFR/s

 

[nerp]

You need to test drive way more cars. Your initial thoughts are fine but you need to drive every car in the segments you like. You might be surprised by what you find.

 

[Jumpem]

Forester or Outback. XV Crosstrek is viable if you can deal with the small hatch.