"New" Vehicle Advice

[Sheila]

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.

 

[BeachbumAggie]

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.

 

[Poodleone]

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.

 

[Em]

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.

 

[JUL]

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

 

[aggieb]

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

 

[kathydwells]

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.....

 

[aggieb]

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.

 

[Lynnie]

Um, I totally missed that thread.

 

[Beach Runner]

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.