Car Buying Advice...I'm going insane, need help!

Saturn Vue- I wanted to like this car because of solid honda engine and tranny but I was really disappointed when I stepped into the car. The cloth upholstery and plastic interior pieces were unsettling to me. If it just left a neutral impression I think I would have considered it more seriously but I was reallly turned off by the fit and finish.



2006 VW Passat- Now this might be a solid contender. I've seen pictures in some car mags and IMO the body styling has drastically improved. It's grown a few inches, and one thing the passat has always had is nice cargo space. However, it was off my list because I was told by a saleman that VW is trying to narrow the price gap between the passat and phaeton by icreasing its size and improving the build quality. Whether or not he was being forthright, I just accepted that it would probably lie in the $30000 range. If it has decent standard features at $25000 I might put it top of my list. I must admit, I'm a little bias towards euro styling.



Nissan- I wonder how Nissan compares to Toyota and Honda in terms of reliability in consumer reports and long term test reviews? I don't want to be naive and lump them together because they're all japanese.



I think the Camry is a very smart buy. I owe it a closer look because I've always dismissed it based on styling.



I'm hoping more people will chime in to give there experiences on living with a four door sedan and two children. This is an issue I really want to be sure about beacuse it will be the foundation of my car buying decision.
 
A third row of seating can make peace in the car with 2 childeren when they get to the stage of wanting to pick on eachother. The more "personal" space you can give them, the better. Then again, some children are better mannered than others.....



Eventually you'll be schlepping their friends around and carpooling for sports/scouts/whatever. I guess the car/SUV decision will be based on the second vehicle (if there is one) in the household. I'm assuming there's a second parent since you anticipate another child in the next few years. You can get away with a car if a minivan is a possible second vehicle later.



Since the kids are really young, you can do the car thing for a good number of years longer. Once they're out of car seats is when you'll start needing more space.



Just drive everything on your list. Drive everything you like two or three times. Make your decision at least 24 hours after your last test drive. Try and have fun and good luck.
 
I'll agree that the VUE isn't going to make you feel like you're in a Lexus or Acura but it works for me. There's a reason they are more affordable than those other makes. Also, when you are hauling kids around and sporting events are involved - there will be a lot of dirt involved. Do you really want to freak out over a nice interior getting dirty all the time? I think the "cheap" interior is easier to maintain.



I just switched from a Mazda 3s (loaded) to a VUE. We have 4 kids and the secondary car is necessary for hauling 2 or 3 at most. The 3 was very nice but when the kids are in the back they are right up against you and you end up with leather that is scuffed and so on. The 3 had what I consider a very nice interior - I have not missed any of it so far... except for the audio controls on the steering wheel.
 
I had a Mazda MPV mini van that I just sold this past fall with a whopping 294/k trouble-free miles. Hauled kids, dogs, topsoil, etc, etc for 15 faithful years. Only reason I sold it was to upgrade and get a newer MPV.



Fantastic product for the long term. Got 19-20 mpg on the hwy
 
I personally think there are already too many large SUVs on the road. So if we're just talking cars, I like the Subaru Forester that someone mentioned (the XT is faster than the WRX), the Mazda 6 (or even 3), the Accord, and Altima.



You might also consider the Subaru WRX wagon. I had one for a couple of years and I have a 3-year old girl. It's a great compromise really. It did everything well. I hauled groceries with it, hauled the family, then I autocrossed it on weekends. It got decent mileage and was very reliable. It's not luxurious but it's not bad either.



Nowadays, I haul the family in either a BMW 323i 4-door (new body) or a BMW 95 M3 (2-door e36 body). It's easy getting the kid in and out of the 4-door and not that much harder in the 2-door. And they're safe.
 
Bababooey said:
Nissan- I wonder how Nissan compares to Toyota and Honda in terms of reliability in consumer reports and long term test reviews? I don't want to be naive and lump them together because they're all japanese.
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My wife had a Nissan Sentra in college. She drove it everywhere with lots of city driving and minimum maintenance. She kept it till we got married and then I used it for a while. We sold it with about 280,000 miles on it and still ran strong--original engine, tranny, clutch, etc. Not one issue with that car.



Just one example...



~Chris
 
I would recommend the Accord, especially the V-6 with the 240 horses. The trunk will have more than enough space for your stroller and any other logistics involved with having a kid or two. My wife and I have three kids and our 00' Accord and 02' TL-S have been more than adequate in handling the situation. We've even been able to transport all three kids in the back in a pinch.



You can get an SUV if you want, but it 's not going to be nearly as comfortable as a sedan, especially the Accord. I used to work for Hertz and drove many different types of vehicles and the SUV's, while really popular because of the perceived space advantage, were just not that comfortable to drive or ride in. Just think, have you ever heard of a car company bragging about how their cars ride like a SUV?!
 
Bababooey said:
I'm hoping more people will chime in to give there experiences on living with a four door sedan and two children. This is an issue I really want to be sure about beacuse it will be the foundation of my car buying decision.
Click to expand...



I have two boys, 2 1/2 years apart, and we got tired of dealing with a trunk in a sedan.



Count me as another MPV owner. We normally fold the third seat into the floor and have a big wagon. Lots of room, decent mileage and can hold 7 comfortably in a pinch.



The MPV is smaller than most minivans and very car-like, drivability wise. They are also dirt-cheap compared to the Honda and Toyota versions.
 
Have you considered a minivan? I know, "who wants to drive a minivan?" - my wife and I have a '02 Honda Odyssey. It's comfortable (with leather seats), quiet, holds unbelievable amounts of luggage, etc., it's faster than you'd think and handles beautifully. The kids love it when I floor it from a stop and we go "swooosh" past everything else!



We get 17-18 around town and 26 on the highway (three adults, four kids, the back full of luggage with the a/c on and driving 65-70 mph).
 
KevinA said:
Have you considered a minivan? I know, "who wants to drive a minivan?" - my wife and I have a '02 Honda Odyssey. It's comfortable (with leather seats), quiet, holds unbelievable amounts of luggage, etc., it's faster than you'd think and handles beautifully. The kids love it when I floor it from a stop and we go "swooosh" past everything else!



We get 17-18 around town and 26 on the highway (three adults, four kids, the back full of luggage with the a/c on and driving 65-70 mph).
Click to expand...



Yep, what he said!:D
 
In that price range for a family car I would get an accord...can't beat it for the money in terms of quality, reliability, room, and interior styling
 
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