"New" Vehicle Advice

Did your mama buy you a car?

We've got a 2003 VW Passat and a 2007 Subaru Outback, both bought new. Seems like we managed to get one of the good VWs because except for a fuel pump going out about 10K miles in, it's been pretty much trouble-free. Like it a lot, and hope to get another five years out of it before replacing it with something that's a little quicker.

The Subaru will be replaced by another Subaru, though probably a six cylinder instead of the four like we've got now. It's got more cargo space than a number of SUVs out there, has five star crash ratings pretty much across the board, and handles like a dream in monsoon rain conditions like we get down here. Reliability for recent model years is excellent and they seem to have largely dealt with the head gasket problems that were an issue in the late 90s and early 00s.

The only thing is that Subies can be hard to find used in the US because the typical Subaru buyer holds them until they die.

If you're looking at the Venza, an Outback or Forrester would definitely fall in the same vehicle family.

My cousin bought the big Infiniti SUV last year and loves it, can't remember the # for it but it's the big one. I think it's the same basic vehicle as a Nissan Armada. I've tried driving SUV's but I'm a car girl and always will be I guess!! I'm on my 3rd Honda Accord; if Honda makes a room SUV, I'd recommend it, seems like all Honda's are pretty good rides.

I have a 2003 Highlander, have been pleased with it. At this time though due to the recent problems with Toyota, I would not buy a new one.

Agree about VW too, we have one in our family, maintenance is very high but they are built like tanks.

I like the looks of Kia Sorrento but watch out for those sock monkeys lol.

I worry about the Kia since I don't know anyone with one.

Did your mama buy you a car?

She bought me a new car when I turned 16, and another new one when that one died when we started grad school.

She bought my sister a BMW 5-series when she turned 16 because that was the car of choice at Woodward Academy.

From what I understand, Mom has either bought or contributed to the buying of many cars my brother. Definitely the first three.

I have a 2007 Highlander, bought new and approaching 50K miles, and love it. It drives more like a car than a truck, and very little maintenance required. Mine has a little quirk that, after the tires get rotated, I get just this side of the Hathaway Bridge coming home from PC and the tire imbalance light comes on. Other than that, it's perfect. Roughly 24 mpg, too.

Of course, both of the Camrys I had prior to the Highlander got 33 mpg, and I would have been fine with another Camry but Fuzz thought I needed to fit in better with the SoWal mom SUV crowd.

Yeah, we've been happy with our Toyotas. Weird about the tire imbalance thing.

We've got a 2003 VW Passat and a 2007 Subaru Outback, both bought new. Seems like we managed to get one of the good VWs because except for a fuel pump going out about 10K miles in, it's been pretty much trouble-free. Like it a lot, and hope to get another five years out of it before replacing it with something that's a little quicker.

The Subaru will be replaced by another Subaru, though probably a six cylinder instead of the four like we've got now. It's got more cargo space than a number of SUVs out there, has five star crash ratings pretty much across the board, and handles like a dream in monsoon rain conditions like we get down here. Reliability for recent model years is excellent and they seem to have largely dealt with the head gasket problems that were an issue in the late 90s and early 00s.

The only thing is that Subies can be hard to find used in the US because the typical Subaru buyer holds them until they die.

If you're looking at the Venza, an Outback or Forrester would definitely fall in the same vehicle family.

We'll check those out.

My cousin bought the big Infiniti SUV last year and loves it, can't remember the # for it but it's the big one. I think it's the same basic vehicle as a Nissan Armada. I've tried driving SUV's but I'm a car girl and always will be I guess!! I'm on my 3rd Honda Accord; if Honda makes a room SUV, I'd recommend it, seems like all Honda's are pretty good rides.

Don't want a big one due to the cost of gas.

Our daughter doesn't like Hondas for some weird reason.

FBB's Expedition, fondly referred to as "Big Red" turned 200,000 miles a few weeks ago. We've never had any major mechanical problems and it still purrs like a kitten.

We pack it to the brim for our trips to SoWal and plenty of room for dogs, grandbabies, car seats, etc.

How about a Nissan Murano; I have 3 friends that drive them and really like them, they hold 2 adults and 2 kids comfortably. My aunt has a Ford Edge (I think that's it's name) that she likes alot-she also has an Expedition that she loves but it's gas mileage isn't so great. My dad has a Chevy Equinox that he's fond of driving and other than his terrible driving, it seems to ride good to me. I'll ask my friend Tony today, we're meeting him and his wife at the horse races and he's a mechanic so he should have the good scoop! We always ask him when we consider new cars.

We just sold my 2002 Volvo S40 with about 170,000 miles on it. I always felt VERY safe in it. I would have kept it except out here in BFE East Texas it is hard to find a garage to work on it. Ford owns Volvo currently and hasn't managed to screw them up yet so the Ford dealerships are not comfortable doing the more difficult tasks on them. Check out Autobahn in Fort Worth- they have some good used cars.

We've had two 'Burbs. The maintenance costs were minimal. But the handling is just awful compared to our Toyotas. Such a "trucky" feel as compared to our Toyota SUVs.

BR, that has nothing to do with quality. That is the set up. Maybe the imports are geared more for riding on the highway at high speeds, where the American models are made for a mix of off-road and highway.

If you are looking for safety and low maintenance, get at Chevy Tahoe or another Sequoia, with side-air bags, if you can stand the new look.

Okay, so we are giving our daughter a "new" car as a graduation present. Her current Toyota 4Runner has about 75,000 miles on it.

We looked at a BMW X5 priced very nicely that is a year old with very low mileage, previously owned by an M.D. who trades every year. But the maintenaince on BMWs is outrageous. Mine hit 50K miles this year, and the $5000 cost of extended maintenance beyond 50K has already paid for itself. Really.

Our daughter and my husband both have Toyota SUVs. The maintenance costs have been minimal. All of our American-made SUVs have had low maintenance costs, although they don't feel as "tight" as our non-American SUVs. Sorry, USA, but it's clear who wins when you go to a dealership like Jaymaxx in Columbus, GA, and drive an American SUV immediately after driving a non-American SUV at a comparable price.

So, any suggestions on a gift for our daughter that won't cost her and her husband as of 6/19 a boatload of money for maintenance and fuel? Doesn't have to be brand new, but I do want all airbags possible and low mileage.

A Lexus SUV

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql-N3F1FhW4&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube - SWAGGER WAGON[/ame]#!

BR, I will refer you back to THIShttp://www.sowal.com/bb/business-goods-services/46271-mani-pedi.html thread......and tell you that 75,000 on a Toyota is not much mileage this day and age. She can probably get twice that much and it still run good. Don't you have a huge wedding coming up to pay for?

Seriously Big D started the side airbag craze in the US? Really? Wow, who knew.....

BR, I will refer you back to THIS thread......and tell you that 75,000 on a Toyota is not much mileage this day and age. She can probably get twice that much and it still run good. Don't you have a huge wedding coming up to pay for?

Seriously Big D started the side airbag craze in the US? Really? Wow, who knew.....

right. pardon me.

Um, I totally missed that thread.

BR, I will refer you back to THIS thread......and tell you that 75,000 on a Toyota is not much mileage this day and age. She can probably get twice that much and it still run good. Don't you have a huge wedding coming up to pay for?

Seriously Big D started the side airbag craze in the US? Really? Wow, who knew.....

Touch?. ;-) Yeah, I was being pretty much a biotch that day.

I want our daughter and her new husband's primary vehicle to have side airbags.

Her car is 10 years old. We're going to give it to her husband (as of 6/19) so they'll each have a car. He has totally supported himself through college and couldn't afford a car. Now he is starting grad school in August. It will be so convenient for our daughter not to be a taxi service for destinations impractical or impossible to reach by MARTA (like our house).

BTW, Big D was general manager (his company doesn't use the term VP) of the largest airbag manufacturer in the U.S. from the beginning of their introduction back in the 80's.

What about the Zip Cars? Our friends in town LOVE them! But I guess they wouldn't be practical heading to the beach house.

Several of my friends have bought Volvo SUV's lately and love them. (getting great deals on used ones just 2-3 years old) Consumer Reports gives them great ratings for safety and low repairs!

ATL is scary, on Interstates!

I lived there in the late 80's and was a victim of 2 accidents, within a 9 mo period! They were both fender benders, but, I quickly became a believer, in WHIPLASH!:angry: My neck and back have never, been the same! Kids were in the car with the last one and unaffected, thank goodness! Could've been much worse, for sure! BTW, Beach Runner, I want to be, your kid!;-) Sounds like your daughter AND fiance, have both earned it!

Yep, if I drove in Atlanta I'd want a tank too!

I always liked the Audi 6 - it gets high marks from consumer reports and I always think of Volvo for safety.

Hyundai has been gaining popularity.

I lived there in the late 80's and was a victim of 2 accidents, within a 9 mo period! They were both fender benders, but, I quickly became a believer, in WHIPLASH!:angry: My neck and back have never, been the same! Kids were in the car with the last one and unaffected, thank goodness! Could've been much worse, for sure! BTW, Beach Runner, I want to be, your kid!;-) Sounds like your daughter AND fiance, have both earned it!

Glad the kids weren't hurt, but sorry about your whiplash. Coincidentally, years ago my Mom had two fender benders causing whiplash in a 9 month period in ATL. The second one was when she had just picked up her new loaded Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham (arguably the Mercedes S-Class of the late 60's) at Capital Cadillac back when it was on West Peach. She got on the connector at Spring, and someone immediately rear-ended her. We kids felt so sorry for her because she was crying like a baby, so we started crying too. BTW we didn't have on our seat belts -- we were too busy climbing around the car checking out the optional equipment. Loved the airline trays behind the front seats -- we immediately knew they'd be perfect for drive-in dining at The Varsity.

We've pretty much decided on a Toyota Highlander SE (our daughter says the wood grain on the Limited is "makes her nervous" -- think it's an artistic preference -- fine with us ). All of the ratings I've seen for it are great (yeah, there's the recent "issues" with Toyotas, but my cousin at the dealership won't let her pull out of there without checking that out). We have had four Toyotas that have been low maintenance, even with high mileage (thanks to many, many trips to SoWal).

Thanks for all of the advice, y'all.

German engineering is overated....for the money....especially any new MB. Also newer toyotas aren't as good as they use to be. If you are getting a used Highlander look up Toyota 3.0..these engines tend to sludge up causing major in engine failures.

Why do you have to buy them a "new" car?

Why do you have to buy them a "new" car?

We're having trouble finding a used Highlander SE, white (safest color) with leather interior, a sunroof, and with low mileage that is reasonably priced. The new ones aren't much more than the used ones we've found, and the warranty period is longer on a new one.

We're having trouble finding a used Highlander SE, white (safest color) with leather interior, a sunroof, and with low mileage that is reasonably priced. The new ones aren't much more than the used ones we've found, and the warranty period is longer on a new one.

A couple of thoughts:

Find a good Auto Broker. I know one here in Chattanooga. She has saved my brothers thousands buying Toyotas / BMWs at auction.

One thing I learned about Toyota SUV's. Unlike their American counterparts, finding one with leather is tough! All the dealers I spoke with just said "we can add leather aftermarket for $1,000". My brother ended up doing that and his 4Runner looks great. I had to see it to believe it

A couple of thoughts:

Find a good Auto Broker. I know one here in Chattanooga. She has saved my brothers thousands buying Toyotas / BMWs at auction.

One thing I learned about Toyota SUV's. Unlike their American counterparts, finding one with leather is tough! All the dealers I spoke with just said "we can add leather aftermarket for $1,000". My brother ended up doing that and his 4Runner looks great. I had to see it to believe it

Thanks. Yes, we've seen some aftermarket leather. It looks good. Not a deal breaker.

Whatever you do DO NOT BUY A BMW X5. My husband has one and it's in the shop more than it's out. Worst car ever. I believe we've paid for it twice!!!!!

Whatever you do DO NOT BUY A BMW X5. My husband has one and it's in the shop more than it's out. Worst car ever. I believe we've paid for it twice!!!!!

All my BMWs have required many maintenance trips. No problems, it's just that the service light comes on about every three months. Back before BMW offered free maintenance for up to 50K miles/4 years, I remember taking my new BMW in for a normal service (oil change, tuneup). The bill was, like, $850. I told them, "Are you sure this is the right bill? There's nothing wrong with my car! It just needed an oil change and a tuneup." I started crying and said, "Just keep the car. We can't afford this." I called hubby and he calmed me down. So when my current BMW got close to 50K miles, we bought the extended maintenance. It saved us about $1000 on the first use.

So no BMW for daughter from us.

I was thinking - could you give her this "gift," but let her (and her fiancee/new hubby) select it?

That is what our family does because they wants you to get what you will like and use - Grandma Scooterbug will give you a card with a drawing or picture of what she is getting you, then you go shop for it, while Mama Scooterbug will just go shopping with you, then intercept you at the check-out, and then make you wait to unwrap your purchase.

Would hate for you to go to all this trouble and get her such a $$ gift and have it not really be what she wants as I think a car is a big reflection of your personality and where you spend so much time.

When I was shopping for the Scootermobile I had a list of very basic criteria, but still went through over 100 different cars before I found one I really liked.